Boost for airport as travel company reveals expansion plans

More destinations and flights starting next summer.

Thomas Cook Airlines has today announced that it will base an additional aircraft at Birmingham Airport for summer 2015. The Thomas Cook Airlines fleet will also change to become three Airbus A321 aircraft, replacing the current Boeing 757 fleet, with the increase to four aircraft completed with an Airbus A320. As a result, the airline will be able to offer 47,000 more flight seats and holidays to customers in the Midlands.

Over the last few months, Thomas Cook Airlines has added six brand 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 Group Airlines by 2016. With the airlines 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.”

For summer 2015, there will be a 20 per cent increase in flight seats available with Thomas Cook Airlines. These include three brand new destinations for Birmingham Airport to Mytilene (Lesbos, Greece), Kalamata (Greece) and Djerba (Tunisia) on top of the new-for-Thomas Cook destination of Paphos. The airline will also now be able to offer daily flights to Dalaman, as well as increased frequencies to Zante, Mahon, Bodrum, Antalya, Izmir, Bourgas and Fuerteventura.

These can be booked as part of holidays and flight only seats from Thomas Cook and Co-operative Travel stores in the Birmingham region, online at www.thomascook.com or by calling 0844 412 5970. Flight sales can be found at www.thomascookairlines.com.