Thomson Airways

Infobox Airline
airline = Thomson Airways
logo_size =
fleet_size = 75 (current combined)
destinations = 80+
IATA =
ICAO =
callsign =
parent = TUI Travel PLC
founded = 2009
headquarters = Crawley, United Kingdom
key_people = Christine Brown (MD)
hubs = Belfast International Airport
Birmingham International Airport
Bristol International Airport
Cardiff International Airport
East Midlands Airport
Exeter International Airport
Glasgow International Airport
London Gatwick Airport
London Luton Airport
London Stansted Airport
Manchester Airport
Newcastle Airport
secondary_hubs = Bournemouth Airport
Coventry Airport
Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield
focus_cities = Leeds Bradford International Airport
Norwich International Airport
frequent_flyer =
lounge =
alliance =
subsidiaries =
website =

History

Following the merger of the Travel Division of TUI AG and First Choice Holidays PLC in September 2007, Thomson Airways will be formed on 1 May 2009. It is a result of the merger of Thomsonfly and First Choice Airways, and will be the third largest airline in the UK. [ [http://news.travelcounsellors.co.uk/New_Thomson_Airways_brand_launched_18644154.html New Thomson Airways brand launched] ] Both airlines have been operating under the same Civil Aviation Authority Air Operator’s Certificate since 1 May 2008. Since this date integration has been underway between both airlines but rebranding of the entire aircraft fleet is expected to take over two years; the process will be conducted on a gradual basis.

Hubs, Secondary Hubs and Focus Cities

Thomson Airways will be a charter airline from 1 May 2009. It's main bases will be at London Gatwick and Manchester airports. It will also have hubs at Belfast International, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Exeter, Glasgow International, London-Luton, London-Stansted and Newcastle. Secondary hubs will be at Bournemouth, Coventry and Doncaster Sheffield. Airports that will be a focus city will be Leeds Bradford and Norwich. Thomson Airways will also operate flights from other UK airports which are neither a hub, secondary hub or focus city. They will be Durham Tees Valley, Edinburgh, Humberside, Liverpool and Southampton.

Fleet

The current combined First Choice Airways and Thomsonfly fleet consists of the following aircraft: [ [http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=summary&owner=Thomsonfly CAA Database - Thomsonfly Fleet] ] [ [http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=summary&owner=First%20Choice CAA Database - First Choice Fleet] ]

Thomson Airways will be UK launch customer for the Boeing 787, following the 12-aircraft order inherited from First Choice Airways. The first aircraft is expected to enter service with the airline in mid-late 2010.

Destinations

The airline will operate charter and scheduled flights across Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, North America and South America. See also Thomsonfly destinations.

References

External links

* [http://www.thomson.co.uk/editorial/press-centre/2008/thomsonfly-and-first-choice-airways-to-become-one.html Merger Announcement]