Thomas Cook

[Jerry]

TCX don’t do Winter from CWL ?

Thomas Cook holidays does usually they use TUIs flights.

 

[Jerry]

News

27 OCTOBER
Thomas Cook triples capacity to Turkey from Cardiff for summer 2018
Thomas Cook – one of the UK’s leading holiday companies – has tripled the number of flights to Turkey from Cardiff Airport for summer 2018, following a pick-up in demand for holidays to the destination this summer.

The introduction of a weekly flight to Antalya and a second weekly flight to Dalaman from Cardiff means those in Wales and nearby counties will have even more choice and flexibility for next year’s summer getaways. Available to book now, the new Antalya and Dalaman flights will operate on Fridays, starting 4 May 2018 and 25 May 2018 respectively.

Turkey has been the third most popular destination for Brits this summer, appealing to holidaymakers looking for high quality and good value.

Dalaman is a cultural jewel in the heart of the Turquoise Coast that combines adrenaline-fuelled adventure with unique access to some of the country’s best historical treasures. Along with laid-back beaches and hidden coves, Dalaman also offers easy access to nearby attractions such as Butterfly Valley and the crenelated walls of 16th-century Marmaris Castle.

A little further along the coast, and known as the Pearl of the Mediterranean, the resorts around Antalya combine natural beauty, buzzing beaches and archaeological gems. There’s something for everyone with a holiday to Antalya, from the triple-arched Hadrian’s Gate, to fish restaurants around the natural yacht harbour, and energetic watersports on sun-drenched beaches.

Spencer Birns, Commercial Director at Cardiff Airport, said: “It’s positive to see one of our valued airlines responding to requests from our customers to add more flights to Turkey. It has always been a popular destination offering excellent holiday choices, so it’s good to see the market beginning to grow once again.”

Thomas Cook’s UK Managing Director Chris Mottershead, said: “Whether you’re travelling as a family, couple or with friends, Turkey offers something for everyone and has returned to popularity this summer with package holiday bookings up 10% among Brits. We’re delighted to be increasing our flights from Cardiff to Turkey next summer and offer our customers even more resort options for their holidays to the eastern Mediterranean.”

To book visit www.thomascook.com, call 0844 412 5970, or visit your nearest Thomas Cook or Co-operative Travel

Flight schedule

Cardiff-Dalaman (new Friday flight)

• Dates of operation: 25 May – 26 October 2018
• Flight times (local time):
• Outbound: 1630-2235
• Inbound: 2350-0200

Cardiff – Antalya (new Friday flight)

• Dates of operation: 4 May – 26 October 2018
• Flight times:
• Outbound: 1825-0030
• Inbound: 1445 - 1725

Cardiff-Dalaman (existing Monday flight)

• Dates of operation: 7 May – 29 October 2018
• Flight times (local time):
• Outbound: 1550-2215
• Inbound: 2330-0155
• https://www.cardiff-airport.com/new...acity-to-turkey-from-cardiff-for-summer-2018/

 

[Jerry]

According to @Severn post in the Bristol forum Thomas Cook are going to lease 4 ex Monarch A321s.
Would be nice to think that TCX would consider basing 1 at Cardiff for the summer but the probability of them actually doing that is highly unlikely. But we can always hope!

 

[Jerry]

There was a post on the other forum earlier on about Thomas Cook Airlines saying that they wouldn't have to lease any aircraft this year and their programme would be covered by their own metal, which obviously suggests that they base a TCX A321 at CWL. So i had a look at their short haul flight programme and counted how many aircraft they would base at each base (i used Wednesday 6th June morning departures as a reference), according to Wkipedia they will have 31 of their own A321s but the schedule says they will need 36 (i'm not sure if TCX uses widebodies for short haul). MAN will have 9 based aircraft, LGW 7, BHX 4, GLA 3, STN 3, NCL 3, BRS 3, EMA 2, BFS 1 and CWL 1. So it looks like they will need to lease 5 extra aircraft for next summer. BRS, CWL and NCL are down to have A320s based so i'm guessing they'll leasing 2 extra A321's from somewhere possibly from Avion Express and maybe the A320's as well. This may explain as well why they had to pull the LTN and LBA bases as well.
So it looks like an Avion Express A320 for CWL next year!

 

[Jerry]

On Jethros it saying that Thomas Cook have acquired an extra A320 for next summer due to arrive in February 2018. So maybe CWL has a 1 in 4 chance having an actual Thomas Cook aircraft based for Summer 2018!

 

[Jerry]

Just seen a post elsewhere saying that the Thomas Cook Group Aviation Director CWL will be a 3rd party wet lease aircraft for Summer 2018 but that the passenger product will be more aligned to Thomas Cook aircraft.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Just seen a post elsewhere saying that the Thomas Cook Group Aviation Director CWL will be a 3rd party wet lease aircraft for Summer 2018 but that the passenger product will be more aligned to Thomas Cook aircraft.

Does he say how? If not, the comment sounds very wishy washy. I wonder how the product will differ this year compared with previous years' third party aircraft.

 

[mathers_wales_uk]

I believe the only way it can be aligned is by having the exactly same product on board. Ever since MT have had a third party aircraft they have always used local based crews offering the same standard that they had for years.

I think that this is a case of the group director not knowing what was on offer in previous years.

 

[Jerry]

Does he say how? If not, the comment sounds very wishy washy. I wonder how the product will differ this year compared with previous years' third party aircraft.

No it didn't say how but the person on facebook believes it could be a proper TCX livery.
Apparently last year Avion Express operated an A321 for TCX out LGW and it was in the full TCX livery which would be an improvement. Another part could be the seats may be more like the TCX fleet if they are not already.

 

[Jerry]

There has been a suggestion on WAF that the aircraft won't be provided by Smartlynx or Avion Express this year but that it might be an ex Air Berlin aircraft.

 

[Jerry]

Thomas Cook Blackwood have 14 night packages to Phuket in Thailand with flights from Cardiff Airport with Qatar Airways on sale.
Thomas Cook Blackwood
5 January at 19:05


THAILAND - PHUKET

Best Western Phuket Ocean Resort
14 Nights
Bed And Breakfast
Superior Room
Includes Transfers
Flights from Cardiff Airport!
(With 5*

200 metres from Shops, bars and restaurants
Three Swimming pools

£739 per person!

Dates available:
29th May 2018
12th June 2018
19th June 2018
7th August 2018
14th August 2018
4th September 2018

Wow!
Deposit payable.......
Based on 2 sharing

Call 01495 239697 or pop in to see us!!

 

[Jerry]

I've noticed on the Thomas Cook holiday website that Tunisia is in the drop down. There is nothing on sale and it might lead to nothing but i believe it wasn't there the last time i looked.

 

[Marko1]

Same for Bristol too. I hadn't noticed it previously

 

[Jerry]

Something to keep an eye on, maybe another W pattern with a BRS aircraft.
Also if it does happen, 2 new/returned routes from TCX in one year would be pretty good!

 

[Jerry]

Apparently CWL will have a Smartlynx A320 again for summer 2018

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Something to keep an eye on, maybe another W pattern with a BRS aircraft.
Also if it does happen, 2 new/returned routes from TCX in one year would be pretty good!

But where would they get the aircraft? I thought that the three BRS aircraft are now fully utilised in the summer 18 timetable. I thought that TCX was struggling for aircraft, hence the cancellation of the proposed LBA and LTN bases for this summer.

TCX tends to operate two rotations per aircraft per day in summer at BRS. A BRS-NBE-CWL-NBE-BRS would amount to an additional day's work each week for one aircraft. BRS-NBE-BRS would be half a day's work.

 

[Jerry]

But where would they get the aircraft? I thought that the three BRS aircraft are now fully utilised in the summer 18 timetable. I thought that TCX was struggling for aircraft, hence the cancellation of the proposed LBA and LTN bases for this summer.

TCX tends to operate two rotations per aircraft per day in summer at BRS. A BRS-NBE-CWL-NBE-BRS would amount to an additional day's work each week for one aircraft. BRS-NBE-BRS would be half a day's work.

Unless they plan to cut something ie PMI flights? They have much more flexibility at BRS with Easyjet there than at CWL.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Unless they plan to cut something ie PMI flights? They have much more flexibility at BRS with Easyjet there than at CWL.

Do you mean cancel their own BRS PMI flights and take seats on easyJet instead?

If they did cancel flights from BRS to accommodate Tunisia and operated BRS-NBE-CWL-NBE-BRS they would either have to cancel an already advertised day's work for one of their aircraft each week or, alternatively, add a third rotation that day which inevitably would be a night flight but it would still mean cancelling one rotation from BRS.

Furthermore, the aircraft transferred to Enfidha might be operating routes on the day in question that TCX might not want to cancel, or might not want to cancel both. That would then mean other routes being moved to different times or even different days.

This is based on the premise that all BRS TCX aircraft are already fully utilised for summer 18. if they aren't the situation becomes a bit easier.

Incidentally, the TCX holiday page is also showing Tunisia for LBA, EMA and DSA, none of which are bookable.

 

[Marko1]

We are making a big assumption with a brs based aircraft as we already do a few w patterns to other uk airports and I really don't think there's room for any more. However I'm sure there could be some overnight slack for both a cwl and a brs aircraft to operate to enfidhna or Thomas cook could charter a nouvelair jet instead

 

[Jerry]

Do you mean cancel their own BRS PMI flights and take seats on easyJet instead?

Yes. If they did that it would require shifting around of schedules I'd have thought.