Thomas Cook

[Jerry]

Heard on another forum that the based aircraft for S17 will be an Avion Express A320. Kind of disappointed that it isn't one of their own aircraft. So it's a case of the same old stuff from Thomas Cook at CWL!

 

[TheLocalYokel]

This must be the fourth consecutive summer when Thomas Cook has used an A320 from another airline at CWL. The summer before this trend began CWL had a based TCX A321. I believe the aircraft has a rudimentary Thomas Cook livery but I doubt that this fools many passengers, even the ones with no interest in aviation.

 

[Jerry]

Considering Thomas Cook fly sun routes which are CWL's strength then i would've thought they would have no problem filling an A321 or 757 or even 2 A320's! I think people wouldn't mind the non TCX aircraft if they were adding new routes and expanding frequencies on existing ones but they just seem to just serve up the same every year.

 

[superking]

it seems like a classic use it or loose it, but in this case not loose it but a smaller air frame.tc do some strange things at times,so what ever they do or how never makes sense at times. you are right jerry a second A320 ought to work. they have ramped up brs with 2 A321 so they must think that pax will travel.

 

[Jerry]

Yes i do believe that Thomas Cook and Thomson may restrict their routes out of CWL because of the bigger aircraft at BRS. If they are to expand then it might only be because a rival airline setups at CWL and in the short term i can't see that happening.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Going back to the 1990s Airtours, a one of Thomas Cook's predecessors via a convoluted route, used to have a far bigger presence at CWL than at BRS.

In, I think, summer 2013 CWL had a based TCX A321 whilst BRS had 2 based A320s. The following summer the types were switched with BRS getting 2 A321s and CWL a 320, albeit as previously stated not one of TCX's own aircraft; and that has been the situation ever since.

 

[Jerry]

If Thomas Cook based a second aircraft then they could offer more scheduled flights and introduce routes like Gran Canaria and Corfu and increase flights on the other routes. I just had a look on skyscanner and on TFS they are cheaper than Ryanair!

 

[TheLocalYokel]

If Thomas Cook based a second aircraft then they could offer more scheduled flights and introduce routes like Gran Canaria and Corfu and increase flights on the other routes. I just had a look on skyscanner and on TFS they are cheaper than Ryanair!

It's very frustrating but that's not just restricted to CWL of course, and not just with Thomas Cook.

 

[CraigW92]

After the disaster of having an Avion express here a few years back, hopefully this time the operation will run a lot more smoothly

After traveling on a refurbished A321 to LPA from BRS last November, the difference in the quality of product to that of a leased Lithuanian A320 frame is huge, having some branded stickers on the aircraft maybe adds some reinsurances

Whilst having some sort of TCX operation could be classed as something, whilst not restricted to TCX alone, the charter programme here has become very stagnant with a pretty ordinary offering, HER was cut 2 years ago on a Tuesday and a new Burgas service was put on a Saturday in 2016,whilst BOJ claimed to show "committed to growing services" simply isn't.

it seems like a classic use it or loose it, but in this case not loose it but a smaller air frame.tc do some strange things at times,so what ever they do or how never makes sense at times. you are right jerry a second A320 ought to work. they have ramped up brs with 2 A321 so they must think that pax will travel.

That's exactly what people will do unfortunately for CWL ( great for BRS ! ), whilst CWL has seen some losses due to EZY and FR, I'd be very interested to see how many travel for charter flights, I'd imagine it would be a good sized number.

I can't see the charter situation improving any time soon, TCX don't seem to very interested at all, TOM would have to base another aircraft and I wouldn't say that's close either, I'd say it's why Jet2 was talked about more really in hope, The two companies could really do with a kick into action, something like that could well do it whilst at the same time adding healthy competition and lower prices.

 

[Jerry]

The aircraft schedule for the based Thomas Cook operated by an Avion Express A320.

Monday
CWL-ZTH 06.40-12.15 ZTH-CWL 13.15-14.50
CWL-DLM 15.50-22.15 DLM-CWL 23.15-01.40
Tuesday
CWL-PMI 06.00-09.20 PMI-CWL 10.20-11.45
CWL-TFS 13.00-17.15 TFS-CWL 18.15-22.15
Wednesday
CWL-PMI 07.55-11.25 PMI-CWL 12.25-13.55
CWL-RHO 14.55-21.15 RHO-CWL 22.15-00.40
Thursday
CWL-ZTH 05.45-11.10 ZTH-CWL 12.15-13.45
CWL-ACE 14.45-18.45 ACE-CWL 19.45-23.35
Friday
CWL-MAH 06.00-09.15 MAH-CWL 10.15 11.55 CWL-REU 08.10-11.15 REU-CWL 11.50-12.55 on 26/5/17 & 2/6/17
CWL-TFS 13.10-17.25 TFS-CWL 18.25-22.25 instead of MAH.
Saturday
CWL-PMI 07.00-10.20 PMI-CWL 11.20-12.50
CWL-IBZ 13.50-17.15 IBZ-CWL 18.15-19.40
CWL-BOJ 20.40-02.10 BOJ-CWL 03.10-04.50 Burgas is an overnight flight and returns early Sunday am.
Sunday
CWL-REU 06.00-09.05 REU-CWL 10.05-11.10
CWL-LCA 12.35-19.20 LCA-CWL 20.20-23.30

 

[Jerry]

Looks like Thomas Cook has started to release 2018 and at the moment it looks like the same old routes as usual but it is incomplete but i think everyone including TCX would be shocked if there was anything new!

 

[Jerry]

First Thomas Cook flight of 2017 at CWL is about to depart for MCO after arriving an hour and 25 mins late from MAN. The aircraft is an A330 200 G-MLJL. This is the first of 2 MCO flights this year. The next one is at the end of May. Good to see TCX back at CWL.

 

[Jerry]

Thomas Cook have released there 2018 schedule. It is incomplete with gaps on Tuesday afternoon and Thursday morning.

Monday
CWL-ZTH 06.40-12.15 ZTH-CWL 13.15-14.50
CWL-DLM 15.50-22.15 DLM-CWL 23.15-01.40
Tuesday
CWL-PMI 06.00-09.20 PMI-CWL 10.20-11.45
Possible 2nd weekly TFS? Or new destination Heraklion?
Wednesday
CWL-PMI 07.55-11.25 PMI-CWL 12.15-13.55
CWL-RHO 14.55-21.15 RHO-CWL 22.15-00.40
Thursday
Possible 2nd weekly ZTH? Or New MLA? as this is the same time slot for BRS-MLA.
CWL-ACE 14.45 ACE-CWL 19.45-23.35
Friday
CWL-MAH 06.00-09.15 MAH-CWL 10.15-11.55
CWL-TFS 13.10-17.25 TFS-CWL 18.25-22.25
Saturday
CWL-PMI 07.00-10.20 PMI-CWL 11.20-12.50
CWL-IBZ 13.50-17.15 IBZ-CWL 18.15-19.40
CWL-BOJ 20.40-02.10 BOJ-CWL 03.10-04.50
Sunday
CWL-REU 06.00-09.05 REU-CWL 10.05-11.10
CWL-LCA 12.35-19.20 LCA-CWL 20.20-23.30

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Which routes are operating in summer 2017 in the the two yet to be allocated slots in 2018?

Addendum

I now see the summer 2017 schedule a few posts above.

 

[Jerry]

Which routes are operating in summer 2017 in the the two yet to be allocated slots in 2018?

Addendum

I now see the summer 2017 schedule a few posts above.

For tuesday the 2nd weekly tfs and thursday the 2nd weekly ZTH

 

[superking]

that means the a320 based again then. also no expansion again.

 

[Jerry]

The seat map is for an A320 so i'm guessing Avion or Smart Wings again. The gaps would probably get filled by a 2nd TFS or ZTH though i guess there could be a slim chance of MLA but I doubt. Personally i think if an airline like Monarch turned up at CWL and based then TCX would do what they do at Leeds with MON and with EZY at EDI and sell the packages using their flights and not fly it themselves. Also been having a look at Orlando for 2018 and at the moment it isn't bookable. I'll be surprised if it return next year.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

I saw a post on Facebook asking Thomas Cook if Orlando will be offered next year and the response was pretty much a no. Not 'wait and see' or 'nothing confirmed yet' like you normally see on social media replies. With the expansion of the 3rd aircraft at BRS, with some new routes but mainly increased capacity on current ones I think the priority is over the bridge. BRS is continually growing with its current operators. Already 1 more aircraft announced for 2018. Nothing from TOM yet and a while for EZY and FR to announce 2018. But with EZY's current growth they could see a 15th. Space is tight at BRS and there will come a point where they can't fit anymore in! This could be one of the few positives for CWL attracting a new carrier.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I saw a post on Social Media asking Thomas Cook if Orlando will be offered next year and the response was pretty much a no. Not 'wait and see' or 'nothing confirmed yet' like you normally see on social media replies. With the expansion of the 3rd aircraft at BRS, with some new routes but mainly increased capacity on current ones I think the priority is over the bridge. BRS is continually growing with its current operators. Already 1 more aircraft announced for 2018. Nothing from TOM yet and a while for EZY and FR to announce 2018. But with EZY's current growth they could see a 15th. Space is tight at BRS and there will come a point where they can't fit anymore in! This could be one of the few positives for CWL attracting a new carrier.

The other thing about BRS is that if the airport continues to grow at the rate of recent years it will be approaching the 10 mppa limit imposed by its planning consents, irrespective of aircraft parking space considerations. I assume that the airport has been making informal approaches to the local authority to assess the chances of having the limit raised but that will reignite the passions of those opposed to its growth, and no doubt another battle would ensue with attempts at legal action as occurred in the lead-up to the current consents being approved.

I've said more than once, and not entirely tongue in cheek, that in one sense the CWL management should almost encourage BRS to grow quickly, because if 10 mppa did become the immoveable limit CWL (and EXT) would be the main beneficiaries thereafter.

It seems Ryanair will have one less aircraft based this summer (four) with the shortfall being made up by aircraft from other bases. This ought to suit the BRS management as one overnight parking space will be freed up and the flights will operate outside the peak periods. Construction of three new aircraft parking stands is also well under way with a small hillside being removed to make space, but I believe that aircraft will have to be towed on and off presumably because of noise considerations.

 

[Jerry]

I'm not surprised by them dropping MCO. It's a real shame as Orlando has always been a popular destination from Cardiff.
Does anyone know what type of aircraft will be the 3rd based for TCX at BRS?
Unfortunately apart from providing the basic routes TCX does seem to have little interest in CWL even to the point that the aircraft isn't actually a TCX aircraft.
Those BRS stands are interesting as they may suit an airline that bases but departs after 8 am and Jet2 does that.
I'm wondering if TCX will continue with the cruise flights or drop them as well?