Thomas Cook

[dazzler]

I feel i am wasting my breath. Snappy one liners seem to be more favoured than detailed responses so im just going to leave it there.

Maybe im not explaining myself properly, i dont know, but i stand by my original comments that had TCX offered BHX long haul, half of this debate wouldnt have happened......

Sorry User001 I will give you detail. I agree very much with nwoody2001 and Aviador

Someone who lives in Wolverhampton,Stafford or Stoke would much prefer to travel from BHX, than MAN.

Wolves is 20 mins away from BHX and 90 mins from MAN. Birmingham International's position on the WCML makes BHX an easy transfer from Coventry,Stoke on Trent, Stafford & Wolverhampton. Travelling by car is better from parts of the East Midlands such as Leicester & Burton as well.

TCX are a Manchester based company with MAN as a base. You asked earlier in the thread if we had seen their new swish interiors. If they don't provide any long-haul routes from BHX I'll never see them.

As said before TOM are providing the flexibility from the South-West,North East,Wales and Scotland as well as the Midlands for long-haul leisure destinations saving many people time and money by not having to travel for 2 or 3 hours to get to the check in. Long may that continue and hats off to them.

When Midlanders have to travel to Manchester to take flights BHX has failed. You really should not come on to the Birmingham Airport threads and celebrate that because its a major pain in the backside for people to have to do this.

Coming off a 9-hour flight to be faced with a 2 and a half hour bus or rail journey is awful. Last month it took me 40 minutes from touchdown to Birmingham town centre using rail.


This city has massive potential and the best catchment area in the country. TCX dont offer long haul for those customers so they have no interest from me. I find it hard to believe that you think we should be happy about a growing range of long-haul from Stansted Airport. Relative ease ? STN ? Are you sure ?

Why on earth would I or anyone from the West Mids want to fly from Essex ?

 

[Seasider]

Why oh why are we are we arguing about one airport's merits over the others?

You get these "discussions" on other forums so please can we stick to reason debate.

 

[dazzler]

Why oh why are we are we arguing about one airport's merits over the others?

You get these "discussions" on other forums so please can we stick to reason debate.

Apologies.

I was chastised for a lack of detail

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there all, as this debate about not enough long haul flights from Birmingham, but Manchester has more choice, well the fact of the matter is Thomas Cook is a Manchester based travel agents, this is one good reason why they offer more various types of flight packages than Birmingha, and because if Manchester Airport is offering ThThomas Cook a much better deal for its aircraft usage, then this is why it's operation at Manchester Airport is far bigger than at Birmingham. Also if the fees for Thomas Cook are £1,848.00 for any aircraft any size to land and take off and then £6.00 per passenger to land and take off, you can see why Thomas Cooks base at Manchester Airport is a lot bigger than at Birminghams, so until Birmingham Airport bosses start to negotiate reduced landing fees to other airlines, then Birmingham is never going to get all the West Midlands population to fly from its own airpor, thats up to 80% of its population, rather than 40% that only use it at present, because the other 40 to 50% of the West Midlands will still use Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted as there preferred airports, rather than there own...Andyc

 

[jfy1999]

Honestly, there is no reason, apart from the cash, for BHX's landing fees to be so abnormal, but remember while Thomas Cook have done nothing we've got American and Icelandair starting a US market, and lots of people would be happy to connect to the US via airports like Dublin, for example a friend of ours who visited a couple years ago, or KEF. I believe Icelandair connect to MCO (correct me if I'm wrong), and they're going 4 weekly so, as much as I hate to say it, the airport bosses may feel that passengers can just connect via other airports.

 

[Brummiegem]

With 2 more destinations added from MAN(LAX and BOS),I think it is safe to say that TCX is not looking at BHX as a long haul base any time soon.
The reasons why are open to debate but some airlines just prefer certain airports as their choice of departure point.
I think we are just going to have to accept that this is the case and be happy with the extra flights that have been added.
However there is every reason to believe that if BHX continues it's growth of pax numbers for the foreseeable future then you never know what might happen with regards to new flights from TCX or anyone else for that matter.As a glass half full man I will always look for positives!!!

 

[Ray Finkle]

I think we can forget about TCX for now, they're all about MAG at the moment and it wouldn't surprise me to see them open up a couple of long haul routes out of EMA.

Honestly, there is no reason, apart from the cash, for BHX's landing fees to be so abnormal, but remember while Thomas Cook have done nothing we've got American and Icelandair starting a US market, and lots of people would be happy to connect to the US via airports like Dublin, for example a friend of ours who visited a couple years ago, or KEF. I believe Icelandair connect to MCO (correct me if I'm wrong), and they're going 4 weekly so, as much as I hate to say it, the airport bosses may feel that passengers can just connect via other airports.

It may sound crazy but I've often wondered if the present administration actually like airlines having a monopoly on a route. It can lead to high prices which we often see from BHX and if this is to cover the fees levied then BHX won't be losing out, the airline will cover the costs so it'll be the paying punter that either forks out the extra or travels from elsewhere? The problem is we'll never know if fees are an underlying issue as they will never be made public.

Competition fuels growth and apart from the core sun routes I don't see it as something BHX has created or even encouraged. I also wonder if they have their priorities right when they're chasing after flights to Minsk yet LIS, PRG, WAW, BUD, OSL, ARN....... and soon to be MAD remain unserved. It's getting dangerously close to writing off any new winter routes, I'm thinking Norwegian here!

 

[Ray Finkle]

Thomas Cook have added another Tenerife flight on Tuesdays, it's showing as a Travel Service 738. It looks to be July to September.

 

[Ray Finkle]

At the moment it's looking as if there will be an extra based aircraft for W16/17. I think Banjul may be going 2x weekly also.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Banjul 2x weekly next winter every Tuesday and Friday :smile:

 

[Brum X]

Banjul 2x weekly next winter every Tuesday and Friday :smile:

Do these flights have to go via Las Palmas if on the A321 to refuel ???

Great to see an increase but i dont want to sound ungrateful but why oh why cant they give BHX a new long haul destination.

Las Vegas ??? Orlando ?? Cuba ????

 

[Ray Finkle]

They usually go direct. I think on the odd occasion where there are very strong winds they may need a tech stop.


After years of nothing Thomas Cook based a 4th aircraft this summer and it will return next summer. Winter 16/17 also sees an extra based aircraft with several increases (including BJL) so things are improving. I wouldn't hold my breath for any long haul though.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Nothing we don't already know but good to see official conformation.

It's also good to know that BHX still exists for Thomas Cook

New Thomas Cook Airlines A321 for Birmingham Airport in Winter 2016

Thomas Cook Airlines has announced it will base an extra new A321 aircraft at Birmingham Airport to support its newly launched Winter 2016 programme.

The new aircraft will add an extra 30,000 available seats from Birmingham for winter sun seekers in 2016.

Gambia, which has proved really popular this year will go up from one flight per week to two; Tenerife flights will increase from one to four per week; Lanzarote moves from two to three weekly flights; and Gran Canaria is new with one flight per week.

Thomas Cook Airlines’ director of sales and planning, Henry Sunley, said: “We’re so proud to have one of our newest A321s based permanently at Birmingham this winter. And as well as a new plane, our customers can take advantage of our new pre-order duty free service, Airshoppen, and get their holiday treats delivered straight to their seat.”

William Pearson, Aviation Development Director at Birmingham Airport, said: “This is great news and shows just how successful Thomas Cook is here at Birmingham Airport. The airline offer routes which are extremely popular with our passengers and demand for seats is continuing to increase. As an airport we look forward to welcoming the extra 30,000 passengers that this news aircraft will bring.”

Seats are on sale now through http://www.thomascook.com

Winter 2016 prices include return flights to Banjul on the new aircraft from £324.99 return; and Tenerife from £91.98 based on a seven-day stay.

https://birminghamairport.co.uk/media-i ... nter-2016/

 

[Ray Finkle]

It also appears as if Thomas Cook have dropped their direct Reus flights for this summer.

When booking on the website flights to Barcelona are offered with Monarch or Vueling.

That's a lengthy transfer for those heading to the Salou area.

 

[IanFarquharson]

Thomas Cook Summer 2015 formally released tomorrow apparently.

However the flight only has been updated and is showing 5 based aircraft Monday - Friday only.

Highlights

New - Tuesday Naples

New - Thursday Malta

Paphos increases from 1 - 2

Tenerife increases from 4 - 5

Zante increases from 5 - 6

Larnaca increases from 3 - 4

Bourgas increases from 1 - 2

Ibiza increases from 1 - 3

Fuerteventura from 2 - 3

Faro from 1 - 2

Losses

Bodrum gone & Dalaman from 5 to 4,

 

[jfy1999]

I suppose you're referring to summer 2017? Anyway, not a bad schedule (although still no long haul). Good to see lots of increases but not surprised Turkey was reduced. I wonder if they'll get Air Malta to operate the Malta flight?

 

[thunderchild]

Both Naples and Malta have appeared before but were never bookable.

Hopefully this has changed this year.

 

[Brum X]

I am going to wait for the official confirmation of Thomas Cook 2017 before i make any comments, however based on the formal schedule its not shouting out at me "exciting". Just the norm from Thomas cook at BHX. To get an extra based aircraft is however good news if this is the schedule.

 

[Daza]

Thomas Cook have added MAH Sat and CFU Sun for summer 2017 this makes 5 aircraft based all week. The fifth aircraft "Ws" out on Monday PMI, Fri IBZ and the above MAH and CFU. Great news HRG and SSH are still listed so may change. New routes for TCX are MLA and NAP
Highlights include Daily PMI (Envelop operate Sat from 10/6) and 6 weekly ZTH (2 on Thu). Eight new weekly flights in total. Interestingly no NBE Tunisia being a big market for TCX in past.

 

[nwoody2001]

Am I right to assume the new based unit will be an A321 with the W's operated by A320?