Tag Archives: Thomas Cook

Thomas Cook announces new U.S. routes from Manchester, cancels London Gatwick-Reno plans

Thomas Cook Airlines (UK) (Manchester) has announced that it is expanding its services to the United States from its Manchester hub. From May 2016, the carrier will fly to Los Angeles and Boston. Thomas Cook’s fleet of Airbus A330-200s will most likely serve the routes, which, as previously reported, already serve routes to New York (JFK) and Miami as well as seasonal services to Las Vegas and Orlando.

Unfortunately, if you are one of the people eagerly waiting for Thomas Cook to open its seasonal service from London Gatwick to Reno, Nevada beginning on December 19, your luck may be out. The Reno Gazette is reporting that the carrier has abandoned its plans for the route, citing U.S. Customs’ inability to process London arrivals at Reno-Tahoe International Airport in a timely manner.

Assistant Editor Oliver Wilcock reporting from Manchester.

Copyright Photo: Stefan Sjogren/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-243 G-OMYT (msn 301) in the old 2002 livery with the Sunny Heart tail logo prepares to land at Stockholm (Arlanda).

Thomas Cook Airlines aircraft slide show:

Is the end coming for Thomas Cook in the airline business?

Thomas Cook, the world’s oldest travel group, is considering selling its airline arm, Thomas Cook Group, as it continues to recover from its near-collapse in 2011.

According to the Independent, the company, which can trace its roots back to 1841 when Thomas Cook arranged for 500 people to travel between Leicester and Loughborough for a shilling, has reportedly sounded out potential buyers for the airline group. These are believed to include rival carriers and private equity investors, although no talks are currently taking place.

The holiday giant found itself under a mountain of debt in 2011 but has since axed jobs and shut high-street shops.

“We are always open for opportunities, which might include partnering with other partners/airlines,” it said in a statement.

However, it added: “We are very pleased with the development of our airlines. We have refurbished the cabins of our long-haul fleet and added long-haul aircraft to our Condor fleet in Germany and the UK. We see our airlines as an important part of our business.”

Thomas Cook AG currently has 88 active aircraft in it’s fleet, spanning 4 airlines: Thomas Cook Airlines (UK) (29) (Manchester), Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium (3) (Brussels), Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia (14) (Copenhagen-Oslo-Stockholm) and Condor Flugdienst (42) (Frankfurt), making it the 11th largest airline operator in Europe, and has ordered 25 new Airbus A321s (above) to replace older aircraft. However such moves could affect the order as well as result in airlines being shutting down or being rebranded.

The airline has refuted the conjecture in the UK media according to ch-aviation.

Could this be the end for the Thomas Cook we’ve come to know for so many years? Watch this space.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Assistant Editor Oliver Wilcock reporting from Manchester.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Thomas Cook Airlines (UK) Airbus A321-211 WL G-TCDD (msn 6038) taxies to the gate at Palma de Mallorca.

Thomas Cook Airlines (UK) aircraft slide show:

Thomas Cook Airlines to add new routes from Manchester to Miami and New York

Thomas Cook Airlines (UK) (Manchester) is returning and will commence scheduled passenger services at Miami International Airport (MIA) effective on May 3, 2015. Thomas Cook plans on operating twice-weekly nonstops between Manchester and MIA utilizing Airbus A330-200 aircraft. The new route is seasonal and is expected to be operated for eight months.

The airline is also starting three times a week service from Manchester to New York (JFK) starting also in May.

The airline currently operates from Manchester to Orlando and Las Vegas.

Copyright Photo: Arnd Wolf/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-243 G-OMYT (msn 301) with the new Thomas Cook Group “Sunny Heart” logo on the tail arrives in Munich.

The new Thomas Cook Group “Sunny Heart” logo:

Thomas Cook Airlines (UK):

Thomas Cook Group unveils its new “Sunny Heart” livery

Thomas Cook Group (London) has unveiled its new “Sunny Heart” livery. Airbus A321-211 G-TCDC (msn 5872) was delivered to Thomas Cook Airlines (UK) (Manchester) on November 22 and will go into revenue service in mid December. the second of the 23 new Airbus A321 aircraft to be delivered to the Thomas Cook Group Airlines by 2016, previously announced in early 2013. This follows the first A321 delivered to sister airline Condor Flugdienst (Frankfurt) in May 2013.

Six aircraft will be deployed in the UK and will be in operation by the summer season of 2014.

The group explains the new look, a departure from its traditional blue and white colors:

“Our new ’Sunny Heart’ livery expresses the philosophy of our airline; our team putting their heart into every flight and making sure our customers’ holiday starts as soon as they board their flight to their holiday destination. The Sunny Heart is the perfect symbol for our passion to create memorable holidays for our guests.”

G-TCDC is also the first Airbus aircraft in the Thomas Cook Group to be fitted with wing-tip Sharklets which help the aircraft fly using less fuel, contributing – with the new fuselage shape – to an overall fuel efficiency of up to 6 per cent compared to the existing aircraft in the fleet.

Meanwhile Condor Flugdienst has already painted its first aircraft in the new brand, Boeing 757-330 D-ABOJ (above).

Copyright Photo: Bernhard Ross/AirlinersGallery.com. Condor’s Boeing 757-330 D-ABOJ (msn 29010) sits at the Frankfurt base today between flights in the new look.

Thomas Cook Airlines (UK):

Condor Flugdienst:

Video: Painting of the first A321 for Condor (in the old colors):

Video: Thomas Cook Airlines:

Thomas Cook Airlines to move to Orlando International Airport in 2014

Thomas Cook Airlines (UK) (Manchester) is planning to move its Orlando operations from Orlando-Sanford International Airport in Sanford, Florida (SFB) to Orlando International Airport (MCO) for the summer season of 2014. MCO will be serviced from Glasgow, London-Gatwick and Manchester with Airbus A330s per Airline Route.

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-243 G-TCXA (msn 795) climbs beautifully away from Toronto (Pearson).

Thomas Cook Airlines (UK):

Thomas Cook Airlines introduces its “Air Flair” logojet

Thomas Cook Airlines (Belgium) (Brussels) loves logojets and the additional advertising revenue its brings in. Following on the new Ice-Watch logojet, the airline has also introduced this new “Air Flair” logojet on the pictured Airbus A320-214 OO-TCJ (msn 1787). The logojet promotes the local Belgian magazine Flair, which is read mainly by women.

Thomas Cook Airlines (Belgium):

Condor Flugdienst unveils a new “Janosch” Boeing 767 logojet

Condor Flugdienst (Frankfurt) has introduced new “Janosch” Boeing 767-300 logojet. Janosch and Condor are teaming up in support of “A Heart for Children”. Condor has supported this organization for the past year and a half and has contributed a portion of its ticket sales. This includes an auction of aircraft models with the Janosch markings. The proceeds are fully passed on to “the A Heart for Children” fund. The pictured Boeing 7673-330 ER D-ABUE (msn 26984) is covered with the images of the animated heroes and will be the flagship for worldwide attention to the project. All other Condor aircraft will also carry the charity logo and a Janosch character in the Condor logo.

Top Copyright Photo: Nik French/AirlinersGallery.com. D-ABUE departs from Manchester last evening.

Condor:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Condor. A close-up of the special markings.

Condor welcomes its second Airbus A321, named “Voyager Android”

Condor Flugdienst (Frankfurt) welcomed its second new Airbus A321-211 (D-AIAB, msn 5603) at Flughafen Berlin-Schönefeld yesterday where it will be based. The new airliner was baptized by Miss Berlin and Miss Germany 2010, Anne Julia Hagen, as “Voyager Android” (below). The pictured D-AIAB (top) was handed over to Condor on May 30.

Bottom Copyright Photo: Andi Hiltl/AirlinersGallery.com. The first Condor A321 is the pictured A321-211, registered as D-AIAA (msn 1607), seen arriving at Antalya. D-AIAA joined the fleet on April 30.

Condor:

Condor Berlin’s flight operations are merged into Condor Flugdienst

Thomas Cook Group (London) today (May 1) merged the flight operations of subsidiary Condor Berlin (Berlin) into Condor Flugdienst (Frankfurt). This move is part of the group’s new strategy to streamline operations and to reduce the amount of its subsidiaries. Condor Berlin will continue to operate as a maintenance company in Berlin. The 12 Airbus A320s and 1 A321 of Condor Berlin are now being operated by Condor Flugdienst. All aircraft operate under the Condor and Thomas Cook brand.

Condor:

Video: A cockpit view of a Condor Airbus A320:

Thomas Cook to merge Condor, Thomas Cook Belgium and Thomas Cook UK into one airline on March 1

Thomas Cook Group (London) has announced it will merge Condor Flugdienst (Frankfurt), Thomas Cook Airlines (UK) (Manchester) and Thomas Cook Airlines (Belgium) (Brussels) into one airline within the group on March 1.

The merger is part of Thomas Cook’s turnaround plan. It is unclear if the historic Condor name will be retired.

Read the full report from Reuters: CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: Arnd Wolf. Condor already wear sthe Thomas Cook brand but still clings to its historic Condor name. Boeing 767-330 ER D-ABUH (msn 26986) taxies to the runway at Munich with the additional Peanuts characters.

Condor Flugdienst:

Thomas Cook Airlines (Belgium):

Thomas Cook Airlines (UK):

Middle Copyright Photo: Karl Cornil. Thomas Cook Airlines’ (Belgium) Airbus A320-232 OO-TCN (msn 425) with the image of Kim Clijsters arrives at the Belgium base.

Bottom Copyright Photo: Keith Burton. Boeing 757-28A G-FCLH (msn 26274) of Thomas Cook Airlines (UK) completes its final approach into London (Gatwick).