Interesting news if true.

The Jet2 effect?

@ the mo I am counting bout 35 short haul departures PW on an up to date TCX site for 2018...

Not quite true ref STN, BFS and EMA.
Still be TCX bases as such, but flown with ACMI aeroplanes therefore not TCX pilot bases.

ACMI makes sense of the info out there thanks...TCX should be able to co-exist with an expanding EXS @ STN...they achieve it @ MAN & BHX for example, capacity might be downgraded however @ STN if the ACMI a/c were to be A320 instead of the A321...I seemed to note no mention of LTN for 2018...The TCX long haul appears to be 6 PW ex STN,most probably in the main peak period..

EMA,STN & BFS using leased aircraft next year?

Will we be seeing an A321 back at CWL for Summer 2018 or are they sticking with the leased A320 ? Anyone know ?

Bit of a shift around i would hazard a guess that the current yearly leased aircraft will be re-allocated next summer to the bases mentioned above with the A321 going the opposite way to BHX/CWL/LGW/NCL ? Five B753 going to condor with Six A321 incomming.

Will the leased aircraft be based in Belfast permanently.or is this just a short term thing and other bases get them as well.

The plan from our so-called 'Managers' is to have based at BFS, EMA and STN aircraft owned and operated by third party operators from eastern Europe. They'll have TCX markings and TCX Cabin Crew but they won't belong to Thomas Cook. The airframes (all quite old) and the pilots are nothing to do with the UK airline.

What you see when you book a holiday is not what you'll get.

Caveat emptor.

During the winter season I believe the plan is to run the fairly light programmes out of Aldergrove, Castle Donington and Stansted with W patterns from other UK bases. But, of course, the very last people to know will be the Pilots affected.

:*

Not really true. Without revealing too much my info was from a TCX pilot- he didn't mention the third party flying but may not have known

Thought the booking had to show the airline operating, so you should know whether Thomas Cook a/c or leased in (or one of the many another operators carrying Thomas Cook holiday passengers)

You are correct. It is a legal obligation to show the operating airline. If it changes after booking you have to be informed.

Indeed. Though something like ACFT OP BY 6Y on the booking confirmation at the bottom of page 13 seems enough.

Tunisia flights and holidays back on sale today. Three times a week from February, seven per week in the Summer.

A risk, but I'm sure there will be plenty of takers if the price is right. Good news for the tour operators who have suffered majorly from Tunisia, Egypt and Turkey's issues. These destinations offer far better margins, with much less Loco competition. Hope it works out.

Pilot strike planned on 8 September over a big pay rise of around 10,000 if the media is to be believed.

Thomas Cook Airlines pilots to strike on September 8th over pay dispute | The Independent

Which airports are on sale for Tunisia ?

Do we know for certain where the leased aircraft will be next year yet ?

Thomas Cook have the following services available to book to Tunisia from UK
https://www.thomascook.com/holidays/tunisia/


From February 2018 = Winter Schedule
Birmingham = 1x weekly, Tuesday
London Gatwick = 1x weekly, Wednesday
Manchester = 1x weekly, Tuesday

From May 2018 - Summer Schedule
Birmingham = 1x weekly, Tuesday
Glasgow = 1x weekly, Tuesday
London Gatwick = 2x weekly, Wednesday & Sunday
Manchester = 2x weekly, Tuesday & Friday
Newcastle = 1x weekly, Tuesday

Now we have the threat of a strike by TC pilots. What are the chances of that coming off I wonder.