Thomas Cook-2
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Mik3bravo may be onto something with his climate change pessimism for TCX’s model but that’s so long term it’s insignificant right now. Besides, the same models are saying wetter and more miserable winters so plenty of time to condition Brits to going away in the winter instead like the Scandinavians do.
Firstly the staff would have been kept fully informed of the financial performance of the business ahead of anything being released to the stock exchange/media.
Join Date: Jul 2015
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Mik3bravo may be onto something with his climate change pessimism for TCX’s model but that’s so long term it’s insignificant right now. Besides, the same models are saying wetter and more miserable winters so plenty of time to condition Brits to going away in the winter instead like the Scandinavians do
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: STANSTED & MANCHESTER
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So the share price drop and the reports of the Airline is in trouble was on the ITV news tonight,
It is never good when reports like this get on to National news as they don’t give the full true story. This will as we all know result in people booking with other companies.
I think what’s needed for this airline to get through this is a total shake up of the company. If it was down to me I would improve the website and Close all high street shops for a start. Iwould want to move some or all longhaul out of LGW and into STN get a good deal from MAG.
I know people on here won’t agree but things need to change and fast, Shops don’t make money and Stansted has no competition on longhaul, I’m sure MAG would offer a very great deal.
It is never good when reports like this get on to National news as they don’t give the full true story. This will as we all know result in people booking with other companies.
I think what’s needed for this airline to get through this is a total shake up of the company. If it was down to me I would improve the website and Close all high street shops for a start. Iwould want to move some or all longhaul out of LGW and into STN get a good deal from MAG.
I know people on here won’t agree but things need to change and fast, Shops don’t make money and Stansted has no competition on longhaul, I’m sure MAG would offer a very great deal.
Daz, I agree that it's never good for any travel company to appear in the headlines as being in trouble. But I totally disagree with your proposed solution. TC tried long-haul from STN with a peak-only programme and significant capacity. It was a complete disaster, to the extent it was dropped completely rather than being scaled back to keep the good bits and drop the poor aspects - the clear implication being all of it was poor. I'd say betting the house on long-haul at STN right now would be incredibly foolhardy, much though I recognise you might like to see this yourself.
Join Date: Jul 2006
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Daz, I agree that it's never good for any travel company to appear in the headlines as being in trouble. But I totally disagree with your proposed solution. TC tried long-haul from STN with a peak-only programme and significant capacity. It was a complete disaster, to the extent it was dropped completely rather than being scaled back to keep the good bits and drop the poor aspects - the clear implication being all of it was poor. I'd say betting the house on long-haul at STN right now would be incredibly foolhardy, much though I recognise you might like to see this yourself.
The reason I suggested Stansted is the cost and zero competition.
Seasonal MCO and LAS had very good loads and they were not promoted other than in the out dated Travel Brochure.
Advertising the routes on TV and social media would easily fill Aircraft. It time to modernise the company. LGW has to much competition to offer competitive longhaul.
with a good deal from Stansted the profits would be greater.
Really? If they were that good, why on earth have they dropped them completely and not repeated the programme? Airlines don't normally dump routes that are profitable. The fact they have ditched this completely suggests it was nothing short of a disaster area. And as you say, MAG would no doubt be very keen to encourage this, so even with the fantastic airport deal that they're likely to have had to support it, it still didn't work. Neither of us (unless you work for TC!) have the figures to know for sure, but I'd say that all the signals here are that STN long-haul was a calamity for them and part of the problem, definitely not part of the solution.
Join Date: Sep 2002
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Seems it has been around to long, not dynamic, lacking direction and has stood still while Easy, Ryanair, and in particular Jet2 have taken its custom? Cannot see how it can survive the winter!
Join Date: Aug 2014
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TC tried long-haul from STN with a peak-only programme and significant capacity. It was a complete disaster, to the extent it was dropped completely rather than being scaled back to keep the good bits and drop the poor aspects - the clear implication being all of it was poor.
Join Date: Feb 2018
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I'd have thought that it was so they could focus more on MAN. TCX main focus long haul wise is on MAN to the detriment of everything else long haul wise at other bases.
Correct me if I am wrong- but isn't the airline in reasonably good shape? It is the Group- essentially the tour company that is suffering with the fall off on traditional package tours, Air BnB competition and the size and strength of TUI. The growth of easyJet holidays & Jet2 holidays who provide a package -but not a package holiday. It is the tour company that has failed to adapt, whereas the airline has carved out a new path with long haul scheduled flights essentially from MAN. This has helped to see off American Airlines from MAN and woke Virgin up to the Northern potential. I wouldn't say it was all doom and gloom as far as the airline was concerned- but the Group needs to get it's act together.
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Jet2 Holidays is very much a package tour operation now, however - its has the advantage of being born out of a low cost airline - rather than a traditional operation. It has just been able to do it better than both Monarch and Thomas Cook - especially in Spain/Portugal which saw an uptick in passenger numbers following the downturn in Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt. Jet2 were ideally positioned for that. They have their own reps on the ground (which are far more visible than any other!), own coaches and offer nice elements such as checking in for the return flight from the hotel.
TUI, very much a traditional package operation has managed to carve a niche of differentated product - succeding with brands like Sensatori which are only sold through them.
TUI, very much a traditional package operation has managed to carve a niche of differentated product - succeding with brands like Sensatori which are only sold through them.
Join Date: Jul 2006
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As stated above longhaul was very successful for TC at Stansted the loads were so good a 2nd MCO was added and departed shortly after the first also correctly stated above longhaul was stopped at Stansted to bolster MAN longhaul.
The fact is TC are to old fashioned and have not moved with the times.
Shops, Holiday brochures, lack of social media presence and TV adds that that are focused on old old fashioned holidays are the biggest problem that needs addressed immediately. Just look at Jet2, they have Jet2 and Jet2 holidays each with their own platform and both well advertised on the side of tneir aircraft, two different identities, Jet2 are all over every social media platform with competitions, promotional interactive games, pop up advertising in key locations, they are expanding resort check in.
I stand by my original post 100% — Close All Shops NOW, Scrap old fashioned Brochures NOW. Revamp the Brand, Move Longhaul to Stansted mirrored to the Manchester operation, MASSIVE multi platform advertising campaign.
How many more winter season do you think TC can survive if nothing MAJOR is done.
Its very easy for Thomas Cook to do, all they have to do is follow the Jet2 template and copy Manchester’s Longhaul program at Stansted.
The fact is TC are to old fashioned and have not moved with the times.
Shops, Holiday brochures, lack of social media presence and TV adds that that are focused on old old fashioned holidays are the biggest problem that needs addressed immediately. Just look at Jet2, they have Jet2 and Jet2 holidays each with their own platform and both well advertised on the side of tneir aircraft, two different identities, Jet2 are all over every social media platform with competitions, promotional interactive games, pop up advertising in key locations, they are expanding resort check in.
I stand by my original post 100% — Close All Shops NOW, Scrap old fashioned Brochures NOW. Revamp the Brand, Move Longhaul to Stansted mirrored to the Manchester operation, MASSIVE multi platform advertising campaign.
How many more winter season do you think TC can survive if nothing MAJOR is done.
Its very easy for Thomas Cook to do, all they have to do is follow the Jet2 template and copy Manchester’s Longhaul program at Stansted.
Join Date: Aug 2008
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Astonishing claims re STN/TCX from Flightrider which have to be regarded as just personal assumptions at best.
More reasoned posts above in answer have almost certainly highlighted the salient points regarding the TCX long haul withdrawal for 2019.
It might be thought too that with the TOM long haul withdrawal earlier TCX saw no marketing/operating/competitive reasons to maintain an outlier base but to require potential customers instead with no other choice than to decamp to their base at LGW.
More reasoned posts above in answer have almost certainly highlighted the salient points regarding the TCX long haul withdrawal for 2019.
It might be thought too that with the TOM long haul withdrawal earlier TCX saw no marketing/operating/competitive reasons to maintain an outlier base but to require potential customers instead with no other choice than to decamp to their base at LGW.
Join Date: Aug 2004
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I’m from a travel industry viewpoint. TUI has been very sucessful in what Thomas Cook is trying to achieve, they have a vertical airline, excelusively contracted or owned hotels and a dedicated high street/online business. Jet2 on the other hand work very closely with independant agents and have a decent online presence - however none of that product is unique. They are now the UK’s 2nd biggest tour operator (overtaking Thomas Cook)
Thomas Cook is stuck in the middle. It owns hotels and is pushing its unique properties, but hasn’t marketed it well. The swing from eastern to Western Europe really hurt them as they had a niche in Turkey and Egypt (although that tide is turning again). With reference to brochures, they are already phasing them out, and with high street stores some which came with the co-op merger have returned to the co-op group.
If I were them, I would outsource all European flying to easyJet and/or another carrier. Focus on long and medium haul - so keeping places like The Gambia, Cape Verde, South Africa in house, while developing Manchester. Independant agents would love to work with them (on an equal footing). Improve the website, and improve marketing of their own hotels/product - make that the star.
Regarding a Stansted base for Long Haul - nice idea in theory, but is there a market for New York/Boston/LA etc...?
Thomas Cook is stuck in the middle. It owns hotels and is pushing its unique properties, but hasn’t marketed it well. The swing from eastern to Western Europe really hurt them as they had a niche in Turkey and Egypt (although that tide is turning again). With reference to brochures, they are already phasing them out, and with high street stores some which came with the co-op merger have returned to the co-op group.
If I were them, I would outsource all European flying to easyJet and/or another carrier. Focus on long and medium haul - so keeping places like The Gambia, Cape Verde, South Africa in house, while developing Manchester. Independant agents would love to work with them (on an equal footing). Improve the website, and improve marketing of their own hotels/product - make that the star.
Regarding a Stansted base for Long Haul - nice idea in theory, but is there a market for New York/Boston/LA etc...?
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….& generally concerning STN & more specifically long haul from STN the rear view mirror & fingers in ears regarding reasoning always appears to be the standard practice.