A couple of the 75's are now staying on the uk reg for next season I believe.

They need investment in the long haul fleet to make the product consistent.

I guess the problems back in 2011 might make it difficult to borrow the cash to make that happen.

OO-TCW will transfer to TCX as G-TCAE before next summer

Any idea where it will be based?

No idea at the moment

Could the Air Berlin A330's be of use to increase Thomas Cook long haul or are they going to Lufthansa?

I think 7 AB A330 are destined for Malaysian. I've then heard Titan acquired 1 or 2 of them and then the rest are going to Eurowings as far as I know.

In terms of MT A330, I've been told that OY-VFK is to become G-TCXD and G-VYGM isn't coming back next summer.

G-VYGM is apparently off to Jet2 along with the current G-VYGL

What is happening with G-VYGK as the three year lease is up in Jan ?

Thomas Cook Balearics
 

Preisdruck am Himmel: Neue Airline für Mallorca | tagesschau.de

In German, but probably fairly easy to get translated (badly) using Google Translate.

Apparently being set up to begin services from Spring 2018, using minimum 3 aircraft sourced from within the Thomas Cook group.

Wonder if they will be used, perhaps in part, to fill any capacity shortfalls following the demise of Monarch, and whatever disappears when, eventually, Air Berlin closes down.

English version of above. Plus agreement with Air Transat (travelmole, 2017)

Thomas Cook Group to launch new airline

Thomas Cook is launching a new airline based in Majorca, which will start flying early next year.

Thomas Cook Airlines Balearics will provide seasonal flying from Palma, the Group's most popular destination, and reduce its dependency on third-parties.

The move follows the closure of Thomas Cook Belgium, which will cease operations on October 27. Its aircraft will transfer to Palma.

Thomas Cook has applied for a new Airline Operator Certificate in Majorca, and the Group said the new airline will provide flights to support its other airlines in the UK, Scandinavia and Germany, according to seasonal demand.

It said it would provide the Group with 'greater operational flexibility at a competitive cost', while also allowing it to maintain closer control over the quality and customer experience than its current third-party lease arrangements.

The new airline will start with at least three Airbus A320 aircraft which previously operated for Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium.

These aircraft will initially take over short and medium-haul flights for the Thomas Cook's German airline Condor to replace third-party aircraft leases.

Christoph Debus, chief airline officer Thomas Cook Group, said: "The new airline and base will provide us with the right platform to better manage the seasonal demand in our business, giving us more control at lower cost as we continue to expand the choice of destinations we offer our customers.

"With more than one million Thomas Cook customers flying into Palma every year, we have~a strong existing infrastructure on which to build."

The announcement follows the recent agreement with Canadian Airline Air Transat for the exchange of aircraft on a seasonal basis to better balance the seasonal demand for short and medium-haul aircraft in the European and Canadian leisure airline markets.

Thinks it's a good idea, using PMI when it's a bit quieter.

Personal preference but if i were heading back home, wouldn't fancy the slot 1 departures at 6-7am. Imagine having to leave your hotel by 3am (or even 2am if your over Alcudia way) :\

Many of the German flights leave Palma around then anyway. At airports which aren't noise sensitive, holiday flights regularly leave German airports at 3-4am for the first wave during the Summer.

Horses for courses, the Germans don't tend to like overnight charter flights, which are quite common for UK airlines.

Departing Germany at 3 or 4 am I would rather pay double the price to arrive at a convenient time most hotels have a check in time of 1400 so arriving at PMI 0600 - 0700 what do the Germans do with themselves?

But more on topic I would not choose any return flight which ment I had to leave my hotel before 1000 might just be me but I like to get up at a normal time grab a paper from the news agent have a nice fry up then leisurely get to the airport

I have noticed jet2 have also set up a base at PMI with early departures to the UK forming a mid morning departure back to PMI.

I always get the earliest flight in the morning to my destination arriving at the hotel early and leaving my bags at the hotel, go off to explore the local area, go for a coffee and invariably return to the hotel to check in which is always far earlier than the advertised 2 pm check in, in all my travels it has only occurred twice that I have had to wait till 2 pm to be able to check in at the hotel.

I personally have no problem with an evening flight back to the UK, get up in the morning have breakfast, pack bags, shower, get dressed, check out at either 11 or 12, maybe get an extension on the hotel room for a late check out, put bags in hotels left baggage room with my clothes for my return trip easy to locate, enjoy the rest of the day until returning to my hotel later in the day or evening to freshen up and change clothing, then a Taxi to the airport for my return flight home.

As I tend to go on several 2 or 3 night breaks a year I maximise my stay by getting the first available flight out to my destination and the last possible flight back home, why waste your last day by getting an early flight when you can get a later flight, I do this whenever possible including the many evening flights with British Airways from JFK to LHR I always get the latest flight home so I can at least go out for dinner before my flight home maximising my time at my destination.

My elderly parents especially my father like to get a midday or at least an early flight home so in my opinion I think this is more of an age thing.

The benefit of having the aircraft based in PMI and operating reverse rotations would be that the airport is quieter during these periods - however, with easyJet, Ryanair, Norwegian and Eurowings already doing the same thing now, the benefit has been already eroded quite significantly. With the demise of Air Berlin, the PMI 'peak' periods are already quieter than they were.

I tend to agree with you Canberra, I like to make the most of my time in a destination if I'm only there for a few days. However, if it's a week in the sun, for me the holiday ends as soon as you lose access to a shower. So I'd rather check out and go home.

If you're not a fan of 3-4am departures, don't move any further East. In Eastern Europe and Russia, holiday flights operate around the clock. 1-2am departures to Egypt and Turkey are the norm.

In answer to above quote.They get all poolside chairs sorted and also start hanging towels on them lol.

Yes Jet2/Air Europa just arrived at MAN from PMI at 09.15 so an early start.

Such a snowflake you are . Times past many much most Balearics flights departed the UK late evening and particularly Ibiza. Back in the eighties I arrived their frequently at 3am !
Collected by coach delivered directly to hotel door by tour rep. Signed collected key went to bed and woke at 5 in the afternoon quick shower and onto the liquid beverage
Organised tours had their benefit with Coach transfers and room available on arrival
Btw our German cousins still take advantage of inclusive tour type business models so they get the room on arrival almost any time

Thomas Cook Fleet
 

Does anyone know what Cook's fleet is for this winter and summer 18?

Try Jethro’s fleet listings!

From what I've read all five of the 757-300's are being transferred to German sister airline Condor and in return will be swapped for six or seven A321's that will be joining Thomas Cook UK.

The Thomas Cook fleet seems to be very complicated, as there is a lot of swapping around of aircraft with the sister German, Scandanavian and Belgian fleets. With these flying odd flights to and from the UK. For example Thomas Cook Belgium operated the Palma-Luton-Palma flight this summer.

They also seem to wet lease a number of other aircraft in the summer months from Avion Express and SmartLynx, which are usually A320's and I assume this will continue next Summer...

You also have Air Tanker continuing to operate two A330's for Thomas Cook next year.

For example they are opening a new Luton base next year, and the routes are showing to be operated by an A320 on the seat map when booking a flight... So I assume this will be a leased bird, which makes sense when opening a new base, as it minimises the risk with not having to employ new Thomas Cook staff. as these will be supplied by the leasing company and will be flown by a smaller aircraft than the A321, in case the base doesn't work out or has lessor demand than that is required of an A321.

To add to the complications, they are have also entered a deal with Air Transat to share aircraft during each airlines low season. So Thomas Cook will send A321's to Canada in the winter, when Canadian's want to escape to Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean. I assume Thomas Cook will receive a few of Air Transat's metal in the summer month's, maybe an A330 or two, but I thought Air Transat's long haul fleet were busy flyng to and from Europe in the Summer?

Also the A330's of Air Transat are a rather cramped nine abreast and will be interesting to see if they get modified to match the UK fleet with eight abreast seating or remain as they are.

The problem Thomas Cook have with their long haul fleet is, they have an inconsistent hard product, as you have their own fleet with Premium Economy and offer Seat-Back TV's throughout. The Air Tanker fleet don't offer either and if the Air Transat A330's enter the fleet for the summers and are not modified, this makes the hard product even more difficult to match customers expectations.

Air Transat's short haul fleet is made up of 737-800's so unsure if we will see any of these flying for Thomas Cook in the Summer months, and these are due to be replaced with A321LR's in 2019, which will be more compatiable with the UK airlines own A321's.

One 757 G-JMOG I think returns in March for Summer which means 4 757 swapped for 6 A321.

TCX have invested a considerable amount of effort into building a long-haul product and I am happy to choose them over say AA or UA. However that would only apply to their own fleet - NOT the Air Tanker birds which, having once experienced, I would avoid - it's a bit of a 1990s style experience and that just does not cut it anymore.

I'm a savvy flyer though and know what to go for and what to avoid - most aren't. So many people will get the TCX long-haul experience through Air Tanker, being totally underwhelmed and telling all and sundry that the TCX brand is 'awful' (or other phrases).

Additionally some of the routes they fly the Tankers on might be considered Premium routes like Antigua and St Lucia but the option to buy said Premium seats (ie to give TCX more money) does not exist.

TCX will have to sort this inconsistency pronto otherwise their careful brand and product building will be undermined.

AA/AB are the only 757’s staying. They will be based in Gatwick for S18

According to Jethros only G-JMOG returns permantly in March. JMAA & JMAB become D-ABOP & ABOR

Fairly certain what 'Jethros' means is that JMOG returns permanently to Condor in March '18.

Dlvd Manchester 07 Apr 16
Op fr Condor 03 Nov 17 -
To rtn permanently Mar 18

Its operaring for Condor anyway now so it would state its returned to Condor permanently now ? I take that as it returns to TCX permanently on March 2018 but we wait and see.

It’s operating for Condor on the G register at the moment with UK crews and returns permanently to a Condor next year. It is still on the UK AOC. Only AA and AB will remain with TCUK for next summer

That's correct.

Forgive me for sounding dumb, but why do TCX/Condor switch planes by season? Didn't think there was a massive difference between the 757/767 and A321?

They all do different jobs B767 long haul 753 high density European and A321 not as big
and aircraft of choice for most European flights now

Sad to see end of 763 ops, from the good old Airtours days. Definitely a bit long in the tooth. I recall one of the AIH 763s getting buckled on a heavy landing.
Wonder what the two at MAN have in store....

Four ex Monarch A321's will be joining the fleet this winter.

Confirmed by Jethro that the 4 Ex. Monarch A321's are indeed the Sharklet ones. Another A320 also to join next summer as well.

Looks like the Air Tanker lease has been extended as the one on long term lease is still operating for MT. Was due to end on the 15th Jan.

Does anyone know when the Ex ZB 321's are expected to be put into commercial service? One still sat at BHX feeling sorry for its self.

I heard that they will go into service sometime this month
Ian

Anyone know why the MT2848 returned to MAN?
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co...light-14503207

Monarch G-OZBG - G-OZBH A321 sat at PIK

rob39
 

What have Monarch G-OZBG - G-OZBH A321 sat at PIK got to do with TCX? :ugh: