HERMAN DE WULF / BRUSSELS
Tour operator Thomas Cook has set up a new Belgian charter airline in response to demand from the Belgian market to serve holiday destinations outside the European Union.
The Thomas Cook group, which includes Germany's Condor and JMC Airlines of the UK, had previously negotiated the takeover of failed Belgian charter airline CityBird with which it had long-term contracts, but suspended talks following the US terror attacks on 11 September and the ensuing travel industry downturn.
"Thomas Cook had a fleet of 57 aircraft standing around idle and we didn't want to add the CityBird aircraft to them," says Thomas Cook Belgium chief executive Wim De Smet. "Now demand is picking up again. With our German aircraft we can only serve EU destinations [from Belgium] and if we want to fly to Egypt, Turkey, Morocco or Tunisia from Brussels we need a Belgian AOC [air operator certificate] and a Brussels-based airline," he adds.
Named Thomas Cook Airlines, the new carrier is launching with a capital of Euro3 million ($2.6 million) and will begin operations in March from Brussels International Airport. It will have a fleet of five JMC Airbus A320s, while Condor will supply one Boeing 757-200 and one 767-300ER for seven months during next year's peak period.
The airline will operate a third of Thomas Cook's Belgian programme, with the remainder to be provided by aircraft that will be leased from third parties.
The new airline will serve 44 holiday destinations around the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, Egypt, Turkey, Morocco and Tunisia.
In Belgium these destinations are marketed by Belgian tour operators Neckermann, Sunsnacks, Pegase and All Seasons.
Source: Flight International
