Thomas Cook-2
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Earth
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The repositioning of the aircraft is normally handed out to a 3rd party. When Monarch went bust, Spire Flight Services got the job to position the aircraft to their storage bases. Spire contacted a couple of Monarch pilots who spread the word and several of the ex Monarch airplanes were flown by ex Monarch pilots. However Spire also has other pilots on their books and they also did some of the flying.
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Outer London
Age: 43
Posts: 600
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Wolverhampton
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From listening to the airwaves conversations, especially the Captain's sign-off and departure wing dip, clearly a very saddened ex-MON crew.
Woild they have been 'contracted' by Lessor /Administrator / Spire et al?
And - did they give them their bus fare home? 😙
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: London
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I well remember the poignant flight of last ex-MAN G-ZBAO (later to become TCX G-TCVD) to NQY.
From listening to the airwaves conversations, especially the Captain's sign-off and departure wing dip, clearly a very saddened ex-MON crew.
Woild they have been 'contracted' by Lessor /Administrator / Spire et al?
And - did they give them their bus fare home? 😙
From listening to the airwaves conversations, especially the Captain's sign-off and departure wing dip, clearly a very saddened ex-MON crew.
Woild they have been 'contracted' by Lessor /Administrator / Spire et al?
And - did they give them their bus fare home? 😙
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LV
Posts: 2,296
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Perhaps they can just get the repossessed leased aircraft as planned but from the lessors. Doubt there will be queues for these machines...
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Behind a desk, dreaming of the sky
Posts: 517
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ownershipwise, it will return to the lease holder, or into the pool for liquidation if it was owned.
Practically, if it was on a light maintenance, i.e. one day, they'll probably just take it out and book it in elsewhere
Gets a bit more interesting if its on a C check. since half of the plane will be disassembled. Im not aware of anyone currently working on them, so until further notice, they'll probably just lay there. Onus will be on whoever 'owns' it to bring in new crew to finish the job and get it out
Practically, if it was on a light maintenance, i.e. one day, they'll probably just take it out and book it in elsewhere
Gets a bit more interesting if its on a C check. since half of the plane will be disassembled. Im not aware of anyone currently working on them, so until further notice, they'll probably just lay there. Onus will be on whoever 'owns' it to bring in new crew to finish the job and get it out
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Bolton
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, yesterday I has to return from Ibiza on the Cook's CAA rescue flight. learned ahead that three flights, Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow were being combined into one - thought how will they manage that?? Anyhow, turned up at the airport 2.5hrs ahead of the flight, was almost the first in the queue at check-in. Throughout the airport there must have been at least 10 ATOL helpers - really good show.
Got my ticket so had time for a wander round outside before going through security. And in the end there were about 40 on the plane, one to a row!! So would the original flights have been almost empty?? Or had the other customers found their own way home?? We got a free baguette and cake on the aircraft (Iberia) + water and coffee - nothing to buy ie. bar.
On arrival in Glasgow there was an ATOL attendant greeting us, and the three coach drivers. I explained I was getting the train - no point in a 4hr+ journey to Manchester Airport and then doubling back - but overall I was totally impressed by the organisation and give my thanks to everyone involved; so was at the airport 8am local time and arrived back home 7pm. If I'd known everything was gonna be that smooth I would have enjoyed my break more!! So ATOL/CAA, Iberia, Virgin and finally my little 574 bus - x x x *mwah*.
Got my ticket so had time for a wander round outside before going through security. And in the end there were about 40 on the plane, one to a row!! So would the original flights have been almost empty?? Or had the other customers found their own way home?? We got a free baguette and cake on the aircraft (Iberia) + water and coffee - nothing to buy ie. bar.
On arrival in Glasgow there was an ATOL attendant greeting us, and the three coach drivers. I explained I was getting the train - no point in a 4hr+ journey to Manchester Airport and then doubling back - but overall I was totally impressed by the organisation and give my thanks to everyone involved; so was at the airport 8am local time and arrived back home 7pm. If I'd known everything was gonna be that smooth I would have enjoyed my break more!! So ATOL/CAA, Iberia, Virgin and finally my little 574 bus - x x x *mwah*.
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne
Posts: 944
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No they wouldnt as there was no outbounds last week so only fortnightly pax returning this week and the odd flight only. Most people were brought home last week.
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Bolton
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So the Cook's plane that should have brought me home yesterday would have just a handful of pax on had they not gone bust? Even in early October I have very rarely returned by any airline and the flight not been almost full, and Ibiza (as a resort) seemed busier than usual this late Sept so I would have thought the original flight would have a good number of Cook's package pax + those like me flight only.
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Behind a desk, dreaming of the sky
Posts: 517
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So the Cook's plane that should have brought me home yesterday would have just a handful of pax on had they not gone bust? Even in early October I have very rarely returned by any airline and the flight not been almost full, and Ibiza (as a resort) seemed busier than usual this late Sept so I would have thought the original flight would have a good number of Cook's package pax + those like me flight only.
As was the case with Monarch, the 2nd week of repats is a lot quieter, as by then, the majority of people (typically booking a 7 night) would have gone home.
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne
Posts: 944
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So the Cook's plane that should have brought me home yesterday would have just a handful of pax on had they not gone bust? Even in early October I have very rarely returned by any airline and the flight not been almost full, and Ibiza (as a resort) seemed busier than usual this late Sept so I would have thought the original flight would have a good number of Cook's package pax + those like me flight only.
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Bolton
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That makes sense, there would have been plenty pre-booked outbound for a week on a flight and holiday that was subsequently cancelled just after closure so couldn't return (except under their own arrangements if they did that).
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Sunderland
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 875
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW England
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1. What will happen to the Thomas Cook stores that are also in the same locations as Hays? (I can think of one Thomas Cook store in a shopping centre near me which is a few doors down from a Hays Travel store that was rebranded from a First Choice store a few years ago - ironically the Thomas Cook store is an ex-Going Places/MyTravel store which was retained after they closed their original pre-merger store downstairs and is next door to a still-unoccupied ex-Co-op Travel store)
2. Just how many of these stores will be kept open long-term?
I see from the article Hays have them for 6 months, so I guess we'll find out in due course. Either way, I hope as many of the ex-Thomas Cook staff as possible who are still out of work are able to get jobs in their old stores under the Hays banner.