Thomas Cook to expand at Birmingham Airport
Holiday airline Thomas Cook is to base another aircraft at Birmingham Airport from next year and add new flights to Greece, Turkey and Tunisia, it revealed today.
The company says the move will enable it to offer 47,000 more seats and holidays from the West Midlands gateway.
From next summer Thomas Cook will start flying from Birmingham to Mytilene and Kalamata in Greece and Djerba in Tunisia. It will also offer daily flights to Dalaman in Turkey and increase the number of flights to Zante, Mahon, Bodrum, Antalya, Izmir, Bourgas and Fuerteventura.
To carry the extra passengers and run the additional flights,Thomas Cook Airlines will upgrade its fleet of three Boeing 757s at Birmingham for a trio of Airbus A321 aircraft, and add an Airbus A320.
Over the last few months, Thomas Cook Airlines has added six new Airbus A321 aircraft to its UK fleet, and this is set to continue in 2015 with three further deliveries from Airbus as part of the 25 aircraft being delivered to the Thomas Cook by 2016.
With the airline's new fleet based at airports across the UK , Birmingham Airport is also set to become a base featuring the new aircraft in the airlines new Sunny Heart livery.
Rob Thompson, Thomas Cook Airline's director of planning, said, "With increasing demand from holidaymakers for regional departures, it's great news for travellers from the Midlands as we add more flexibility and choice with flights and holidays from Birmingham Airport.
"As a base that will include one of our new aircraft, we're convinced that our customers will love the new comfort and reliability offered by our new fleet – and the great range of brand new flights for Birmingham Airport to Mytilene and Kalamata in Greece, and Djerba in Tunisia – and the daily service to Dalaman in Turkey, our most popular destination."
William Pearson, aviation development director at Birmingham Airport, said: "Thomas Cook's decision to base an additional aircraft at Birmingham and introduce these exciting new routes means passengers looking to book a holiday for summer 15 now have even greater choice.
!Holidaymakers flying from Birmingham will also be able to take advantage of Thomas Cook's new fleet of aircraft, including the brand new Airbus A321.
"The increased capacity, which includes an additional 47,000 seats being made available, demonstrates the strong demand that exists for flights to these summer destinations from Birmingham."
