Thomas Cook Airlines

Infobox_Airline
airline=Thomas Cook Airlines
logo=Thomas Cook logo.pnglogo_size=130px
IATA=MT
ICAO=TCX
callsign=KESTREL
parent=Thomas Cook Group
founded=1 September 1999
headquarters=Manchester, United Kingdom
hubs=Manchester Airport
London Gatwick Airport
focus_cities=Belfast International Airport
Birmingham Airport
Bristol Airport
Cardiff Airport
East Midlands Airport
Glasgow Airport
Leeds Bradford Airport
Newcastle Airport
London Stansted Airport
fleet_size=42| destinations=100 [http://www.flythomascook.com/skylights/html/route-map.shtml]
key_people=Frank Pullman (MD)
Steve Solomon (DFO)
Martin Mahoney (Chief Pilot)
website=http://www.thomascookairlines.co.uk

Thomas Cook Airlines is a British charter airline based in Manchester, England. It serves main holiday resorts in Europe (particularly the Mediterranean), North Africa, Asia, North America and the Caribbean from main bases at Manchester and London Gatwick.

The airline also operates services from smaller bases at Belfast International, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Glasgow-International, Leeds-Bradford, London Stansted, and Newcastle.

On 30 March 2008, MyTravel Airways was fully integrated into Thomas Cook Airlines. The airline operates a fleet of 42 Boeing and Airbus aircraft during the summer season, making it one of the largest airlines in the UK.

Thomas Cook Airlines Limited holds a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licence, permitting it to carry passengers, cargo and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats. [ [http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?categoryid=183&pagetype=90&pageid=340 Operating Licence] ]

History

The airline was established on 1 September 1999 and started operations on 27 March 2000. It was created as JMC Airlines through the merger of Flying Colours Airlines and Caledonian Airways, following the integration of the Carlson Leisure group with Thomas Cook, which brought both airlines under common ownership in October 1999. JMC Airlines was renamed as Thomas Cook Airlines UK on 31 March 2003 [ [http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/ab55eea81d36ea14c8d8f88fffe456f5/compdetails Name change to Thomas Cook Airlines] ] . The airline is owned by Thomas Cook.

Thomas Cook AG & MyTravel Group PLC merged to form Thomas Cook Group PLC in June 2007 and opened on the London Stock Exchange, with KarstadtQuelle retaining a 51% stake in the new company. On 30 March 2008 MyTravel Airways was fully integrated into Thomas Cook Airlines in preparation for the summer 2008 season, with a fleet of Airbus A320, A321 and A330 aircraft along with Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft.

The airline operates for a number of tour operators, however Thomas Cook Tour Operations is the main user of the airline. Thomas Cook Airlines launched its own seat only service in 2005, selling seats directly under the name [http://www.flythomascook.com Fly Thomas Cook] .

Thomas Cook Airlines, with tour operator Canadian Affair, offers flights to Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax, Montreal and Ottawa from Birmingham, London Gatwick, Manchester, and Glasgow airports in the United Kingdom. The flights to Eastern Canada are operated by re-configured Boeing 757-200 aircraft with 187 seats and 35" seat pitch. The Western Canada flights are operated by Airbus A330 aircraft.

Fleet

Livery and interiors

All Thomas Cook aircraft are painted in white, with the blue and yellow Thomas Cook logo on the tail of each aircraft. A light blue covers the underbody of the aircraft. The aircraft cabins feature blue fabric or leather seats and carpets. The same applies on the Boeing 757 transatlantic aircraft, but the seats are leather with a greater seat pitch of 35", seating 187 passengers.

The longhaul fleet of Airbus A330 aircraft feature an all-leather seat configuration with either 45 premium and 278 economy seats or 49 premium and 274 economy seats, and a seat pitch of 33" in economy. The Airbus A330 aircraft also feature seat-back entertainment in both cabins.

Awards

* [http://www.flightontime.info FlightOnTime.info] Runner-Up UK Charter Airline for Punctuality - Summer 2006
* [http://www.flightontime.info FlightOnTime.info] Most Punctual UK Charter Airline - Summer 2002 & Summer 2003
* [http://www.flightontime.info FlightOnTime.info] Most Punctual UK Charter Airline - Winter 2002/03 & Winter 2003/04

External links

* [http://www.thomascookairlines.co.uk Thomas Cook Airlines - Official website]
* [http://www.thomascook.com Thomas Cook - Official website]
* [http://www.flythomascook.com/skylights/html/route-map.shtml Route map]
* [http://www.airfleets.net/ageflotte/?file=calcop&opp=Thomas%20Cook%20UK Fleet Age]

References