Thomas Cook

[Matt995]

yes not a very good press release! Arrecife is already served on Mondays & Thursdays, Paphos already on Friday, Corfu on Thursday/Sunday is not new either along with Heraklion on Friday!!! someone must have cobbled together this press release in 5 minutes!!!

I woudn't read to much into this press release, i'm sure Varna and Thessaloniki will be added!!

 

[Ray Finkle]

I found the flight times for Thessaloniki in the Holidays section, 1 weekly:

Sunday
BHX 06:45 SKG 12:05
SKG 13:05 BHX 14:40

Many thanks for that.

Anything for Varna?

 

[juliet-fox-9]

Nothing for Varna yet but I did find the Girona flight times!

Friday
BHX 06:30 GRO 08:35
GRO 09:35 BHX 11:45

All those times were in the Holidays/Hotel section, just selected a random hotel and the flight times were there with an option to change your departure point (MAN was the default airport).

 

[Ray Finkle]

I can't make it work

Have you got time to check Preveza?

 

[Brum X]

Great to see expansion from TCX at BHX, but give us some long haul routes. Pllleeeeeaaaaassssseeeeee 😗

 

[Ray Finkle]

Thessaloniki is now bookable on the flights website on Sundays.

Varna is also bookable on Tuesdays.

No Preveza at all and the timetable doesn't list it. Possibly selling holidays on Monarch flights?

Naples is gone with holidays on TOM flights, looking at this year both Tue and Fri are also TOM codes so maybe it won't operate at all?

Not much in the way of growth (plenty of time for change though) but two new destinations to add to the list 👍

 

[Paulsstrange]

Thessaloniki is now bookable on the flights website on Sundays.

Varna is also bookable on Tuesdays.

No Preveza at all and the timetable doesn't list it. Possibly selling holidays on Monarch flights?

Naples is gone with holidays on TOM flights, looking at this year both Tue and Fri are also TOM codes so maybe it won't operate at all?

Not much in the way of growth (plenty of time for change though) but two new destinations to add to the list 👍

Ray do we think we will require 5 based or just a packed 4 base ?

 

[Ray Finkle]

Ray do we think we will require 5 based or just a packed 4 base ?

Still four I think, I'll have a proper look this evening.

 

[Ray Finkle]

These are the frequencies for 2018 with 2017 in brackets, it's very early days and we probably won't see the final schedule until well into the winter so expect changes (good or bad).

New are weekly Girona, Thessaloniki and Varna with 2x weekly Palma and a weekly Heraklion being cut. Hurghada also sees an extra flight so we're +1 weekly, as it stands. Naples for this year is showing Tue and Fri but on Thomson, next year it's only showing Fri, again on Thomson. No sign at all of Preveza (it's bookable from BRS) so it could just be seats bought on the Monarch service. Sharm returns this December but only runs until the end of April, if things go well there may be scope to carry it through the summer.

Antalya 3x weekly (no change)
Almeria 2x weekly (no change)
Bourgas 2x weekly (no change)
Comiso weekly (no change)
Corfu 2x weekly (no change)
Dalaman 5x weekly (no change)
Faro weekly with the second using Monarch (no change)
Fuerteventura 3x weekly (no change)
Girona weekly (+1 weekly)
Gran Canaria 2x weekly (no change)
Heraklion 2x weekly (-1 weekly)
Hurghada 2x weekly (+1 weekly)
Ibiza weekly (no change)
Izmir weekly (no change)
Kalamata weekly (no change)
Kefalonia weekly (no change)
Kos 3x weekly (no change)
Lanzarote 2x weekly (no change)
Larnaca 3x weekly (no change)
Majorca 4x weekly (-2 weekly)
Malta weekly (no change)
Menorca 2x weekly (no change)
Mytilene weekly (no change)
Paphos 2x weekly (no change)
Rhodes 2x weekly (no change)
Santorini weekly (no change)
Tenerife 2x weekly (no change)
Thessaloniki weekly (+1 weekly)
Varna weekly (+1 weekly)
Zakynthos 4x weekly (no change)

 

[IanFarquharson]

https://www.thomascookairlines.com/en/generated/timetable_S2018.pdf

 

[Paulsstrange]

https://www.thomascookairlines.com/en/generated/timetable_S2018.pdf

This looks comprehensive on short haul for bhx and shows Gerona Varna and thessalonika etc...do we think a 5th aircraft required ?

 

[IanFarquharson]

Paul

4 based still see Ray's summary above we are up just 1 flight pw overall

 

[Matt995]

Provision Summer 2018 schedule :-

Flight No Route ETD ETA DAY A/C No A/C

MT 1308/9 BOJ 06:00 13:55 MON 1 320

MT 1402/3 ACE 14:55 00:05 MON 1 320

MT 1876/7 PMI 06:05 12:10 MON 2 321

MT 1862/3 FUE 14:15 23:30 MON 2 321

MT 1842/3 ZTH 06:20 14:40 MON 3 321

MT 1404/5 LPA 16:10 01:50 MON 3 321

MT 1020/1 MAH 07:00 12:55 MON 4 321

MT 678/9 DLM 14:00 23:30 MON 4 321

MT 1704/5 KGS 16:55 15:40 MON 5 321 BRS A/C

MT 204/5 AYT 07:30 16:55 TUE 1 321

MT 1022/3 JTR 07:40 16:45 TUE 1 321

MT 578/9 DLM 19:45 03:45 TUE 1 321

MT 1900/1 VAR 06:00 14:05 TUE 2 320

MT 1902/3 PFO 15:20 01:45 TUE 2 320

MT 1248/9 PMI 06:35 12:35 TUE 3 321

MT 1132/3 TFS 13:50 23:35 TUE 3 321

MT 1426/7 EFL 07:05 15:05 TUE 4 321

MT 682/3 AYT 16:20 02:05 TUE 4 321

MT 1730/1 HER 16:30 15:15 TUE 5 321 BRS A/C

MT 1996/7 CIY 05:00 12:40 WED 1 320

MT 1414/5 LCA 13:55 00:30 WED 1 320

MT 1842/3 ZTH 05:15 13:25 WED 2 321

MT 702/3 HRG 14:25 02:55 WED 2 321

MT 1712/3 IBZ 06:00 12:10 WED 3 321

MT 1728/9 RHO 13:10 22:35 WED 3 321

MT 1898/9 LEI 06:35 13:20 WED 4 321

MT 1862/3 FUE 14:35 00:15 WED 4 321

MT 562/3 AYT 17:50 16:45 WED 5 321 BRS A/C

MT 1412/3 MLA 06:00 13:40 THU 1 320

MT 578/9 DLM 14:50 00:15 THU 1 320

MT 1248/9 PMI 05:55 12:05 THU 2 321

MT 1420/1 KGS 13:20 22:30 THU 2 321

MT 1432/3 ZTH 23:30 07:40 THU 2 321

MT 1636/7 CFU 06:55 14:40 THU 3 321

MT 1806/7 ACE 15:55 00:55 THU 3 321

MT 1872/3 ZTH 07:00 15:10 THU 4 321

MT 1890/1 LPA 16:30 02:25 THU 4 321

MT 1308/9 BOJ 05:00 13:10 FRI 1 320

MT 1416/7 PFO 14:25 00:50 FRI 1 320

MT 1020/1 MAH 06:30 12:30 FRI 2 321

MT 1414/5 LCA 13:30 00:05 FRI 2 321

MT 1888/9 GRO 06:30 11:45 FRI 3 321

MT 1024/5 HER 13:45 22:55 FRI 3 321

MT 1222/3 TFS 09:10 18:40 FRI 4 321

MT 678/9 DLM 19:40 05:20 FRI 4 321

MT 1906/7 FUE 06:00 15:05 SAT 1 320

MT 722/3 ADB 16:20 01:15 SAT 1 320

MT 1410/1 FAO 06:05 12:45 SAT 2 321

MT 1214/5 MJT 13:55 22:15 SAT 2 321

MT 578/9 DLM 16:40 02:10 SAT 3 321

MT 682/3 AYT 07:05 16:50 SAT 4 321

MT 1882/3 RHO 17:50 03:20 SAT 4 321

MT 1248/9 PMI 12:25 11:25 SAT 5 321 BRS A/C

MT 1874/5 ZTH 05:05 13:15 SUN 1 321

MT 1886/7 KGS 14:25 23:45 SUN 1 321

MT 1408/9 LEI 06:00 12:40 SUN 2 321

MT 992/3 HRG 14:00 02:35 SUN 2 321

MT 1090/1 SKG 06:45 14:40 SUN 3 321

MT 1904/5 LCA 15:55 02:25 SUN 3 321

MT 1424/5 KMX 07:20 16:10 SUN 4 320

MT 1908/9 CFU 17:25 01:10 SUN 4 320

only missing gap I can see is saturday morning, and the 4 away based flights are all planned to be operated by a Bristol aircraft.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Thomas Cook’s Birmingham summer starts with exclusive new Sicily and Lesbos flights

Summer starts at Birmingham Airport as thousands of holiday makers flock to the amazing new destinations launched this week by Thomas Cook.

Its summer 2017 programme features exclusive flights from £35 one-way to Comiso in Sicily and from £49 one-way to the Greek island of Lesbos. A new Sentido, the Acacia Marina, also opens this week in Sicily with seven-night packages starting from £486pp based on two people sharing.

Also this week there are new flights starting to Naples (£39) and Malta (£49) and the immensely popular James Martin meals are relaunched with an amazing summer menu featuring mouth-watering treats like slow-braised balsamic beef and roast chicken breast available on board.

Aviation director for Thomas Cook, James Burrows, said: “This is a really exciting year for us at Birmingham, with exciting new routes for both independent travellers and package holiday customers.

“Together with Birmingham International Airport, we’re going to more and more great holiday destinations to give our customers the choice they deserve for their hard-earned holidays.”

William Pearson, Aviation Director of Birmingham Airport said: “We are delighted that Thomas Cook has launched these new flights from Birmingham Airport. The airline is not only offering more capacity on popular leisure routes but also introducing a brand new destination from Birmingham to Comiso which means passengers can now visit the beautiful island of Sicily from the Midlands. Thomas Cook is an established airline that offers something for all passengers, from flight only to all-inclusive holidays and we welcome its decision to expand from Birmingham.”

Summer starts at Birmingham Airport as thousands of holiday makers flock to the amazing new destinations launched this week by Thomas Cook.

Thomas Cook Airlines Birmingham new flying programme for S17 (one-way prices)

Naples - £39 - Tuesdays

Comiso - £35 - Wednesdays

Malta - £49 - Thursdays

Lesbos - £49 - Saturdays

https://www.birminghamairport.co.uk...with-exclusive-new-sicily-and-lesbos-flights/

 

[Ray Finkle]

On FCO advice Thomas Cook have cancelled this winters flights to Sharm but will be flying to Marsa Alam instead.

It operates on Mondays from November.

BHX 09:00 RMF 16:35
RMF 17:35 BHX 21:45

 

[Brum X]

On FCO advice Thomas Cook have cancelled this winters flights to Sharm but will be flying to Marsa Alam instead.

It operates on Mondays from November.

BHX 09:00 RMF 16:35
RMF 17:35 BHX 21:45

It is good to see this route to Egypt operate but i am slightly confused with Egypy. Surely if it is safe to travel to Egypt, then it is safe to travel to SSH. So after all the bad publicity SSH airport had in the UK 2 years ago, the FCO are basically saying that they have done "nothing" to improve the security situation. How could that happen ? But then it is fine to travel to Hurghada and now Marsa Alam, but not SSH 😒

 

[Ray Finkle]

I'm not totally up to date on the situation but I think the threat was specifically for Sharm Airport after the bombing of that Russian plane. Apparently their security is far from adequate and it appears that the situation has not improved sufficiently for flights to resume. I imagine that the likes of Hurghada and Marsa Alam Airports have also been inspected and have found to be satisfactory.

Thomson also have a weekly Sharm set to resume this winter, it's still bookable right through to the end of next summer. We shall see if we get a new route to replace it or just an increase elsewhere.

 

[juliet-fox-9]

The MCO flight is due to depart this Sunday at 11:40. I think the return flight is on June 4.

Although I see this as being better than nothing and it comes with the possibility (however slight) that they are dipping a toe to test for a more permanent service, I find it hard to see their reasons for this (unless for an event or a cruise?) if they aren't testing the market?

Changing topic very slightly - RoutesOnline today published an interview with route development managers at Thomas Cook UK and Thomas Cook Germany highlighting TCX's long-term plan to commit to "secondary airports".

Regional short haul expansion plans get a mention with an aim to add more "niche" routes and increase capacity in the Red Sea region.

Although they intend to increase "point-to-point long haul" with New Orleans mentioned as a future destination there is no specific mention of whether they intend to increase the number of regional bases with long haul flights or just keep growing long haul out of existing bases.

 

[Karl C]

It seems like Thomas Cook have stagnated at BHX with 3-4 aircraft for as long as I can remember. To their own detriment, Jet2 will surpass them in one year with aircraft based at the airport. They do seem to concenrate most of their efforts at LGW and MAN. Their loss i suppose unless they get their fingers out sometime soon

Cheers

Karl

 

[Ray Finkle]

Although I see this as being better than nothing and it comes with the possibility (however slight) that they are dipping a toe to test for a more permanent service, I find it hard to see their reasons for this (unless for an event or a cruise?) if they aren't testing the market?

We had a one off flight a few years ago over the Easter period. Some saw that as a market test but even though the flights sold out fairly quickly nothing ever happened. I guess Thomas Cook have their reasons but I won't hold my breath for anything long haul.