A380Heavy From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2006, 217 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 3 months 1 week 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 6166 times:
Just announced on Sky News - Mytravel and Thomas Cook are to merge. That's all the news they have at the moment, however, Reuters announced the following an hour ago:
Quote: LONDON (Reuters) - British package holiday company MyTravel (MT.L: Quote, Profile , Research) and Thomas Cook, its Germany-based rival, are in advanced talks about a merger of equals, with a deal likely as early as Monday, the Financial Times reported.
The two firms were working on the final details, the newspaper said on its Web site, without citing sources.
The structure of the deal remained unclear but shareholders of MyTravel -- a 1.1 billion pound company -- would receive shares in the combined group, according to the FT.
A comment was not immediately available from MyTravel or Thomas Cook, owned by German retailer KarstadtQuelle (KARG.DE: Quote, Profile , Research).
The FT said a merger would have a big impact on the auction of First Choice's (FCD.L: Quote, Profile , Research) package holiday business.
The British competitor is in talks with a number of parties, including MyTravel and Thomas Cook, over the possible sale of the business.
KarstadtQuelle agreed to buy the 50 percent of Thomas Cook it did not own from Deutsche Lufthansa (LHAG.DE: Quote, Profile , Research) in December for 800 million euros (534 million pounds).
My questions are:
(1) How do you see the merged companies airlines shaping up in terms of aircraft type, numbers and any new aircraft requirements?
(2) What now for First Choice? - a takeover of their package holiday business has been muted for some time now.
TriStar500 From Germany, joined Nov 1999, 4685 posts, RR: 47 Reply 2, posted (6 years 3 months 1 week 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 6125 times:
Future fleet development will most likely follow the strategy of the parent company (Thomas Cook), thus facilitating a large combined replacement order for various subfleets in TC's European fleets, e.g. DE's ageing B763's or some of TCK's older B757's..
Homer: Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!
I believe your prediction of a large combined replacement order will prove to be correct
However, I do not think that any existing strategy (from either Thomas Cook or MyTravel) is a sure fire cert to be used.
Given the order will almost certainly be larger than anything already suggested there will almost inevitably be an opportunity for the new company to get the manufacturers to come up with some very appealing options in the (manufacturers) desire to pick up what will be a substantial order.
Schooner From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 139 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (6 years 3 months 1 week 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 5895 times:
The airline will almost certainly remain Thomas Cook. The parent company that results from the merger is to be named Thomas Cook Group & although it is written as a "merger" the senior partner will be TCX.
Humberside From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2005, 4901 posts, RR: 5 Reply 6, posted (6 years 3 months 1 week 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 5880 times:
Surprising News
Quoting A380Heavy (Thread starter): (1) How do you see the merged companies airlines shaping up in terms of aircraft type, numbers and any new aircraft requirements?
Overall I would expect to see a slightly reduced fleet. AFAIK the only overlap between MyTravel and Thomas Cook is in the UK. At airports like LGW and MAN, the number of based aircraft maybe slightly reduced in order to reduce duplication (e.g. to PMI, TFS etc). Would be nice to think these aircraft wiould be allocated to new regional bases but unfortuantely I doubt it
Quoting A380Heavy (Thread starter): (2) What now for First Choice? - a takeover of their package holiday business has been muted for some time now.
The two most likely bidders are not going to be interested. The only other rumoured bidder is Virgin. Unsurprisingly First Choice shares have slumped this morning
FlyingColours From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 2315 posts, RR: 11 Reply 7, posted (6 years 3 months 1 week 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 5829 times:
Quoting Humberside (Reply 6): Overall I would expect to see a slightly reduced fleet. AFAIK the only overlap between MyTravel and Thomas Cook is in the UK. At airports like LGW and MAN, the number of based aircraft maybe slightly reduced in order to reduce duplication (e.g. to PMI, TFS etc).
True, but those aircraft could all be full, so unless a larger aircraft is used to consolidate 2 flights into one (unlikley) then I would imagine the flights still go out together. I know from my time with DP that we had numerous flights to PMI on a Saturday for example (5 I think, 4 757s and 1 A320) all from Manchester but spread out over the course of the day and each one was full, yet both MT & MYT sent aircraft in at the same time. Its a case of how many people want to go there.
Perhaps less busy destinations like the Greek Islands could see a slight reduction though.
Still I'm glad that both these airlines have a future, just slightly upset that one will dissapear.
Of course this gives TCX a great opportunity to rebrand as Flying Colours If only
Phil
FlyingColours
Lifes a train racing towards you, now you can either run away or grab a chair & a beer and watch it come - Phil
Lite From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (6 years 3 months 1 week 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 5808 times:
The name of the merged airline will be Thomas Cook Airlines, when you consider that corporate name of the company after this merger will be Thomas Cook, and this will likely be spread through the travel agencies and some of the holiday companies as well. Thomas Cook is a well known brand in the UK, and I would imagine far more punters are aware of it than MyTravel, though I will miss their eye-catching brand, smart uniforms and brightly coloured planes.
With the merger, as has been mentioned, there are going to be some obvious synergies which will probably mean a slight shrinkage of the main bases at LGW and MAN. I wouldn't be so sure though, Humberside, that some of the released aircraft might not be used in the regions. I think the tour operators are waking up to the fact people don't want to drive to LGW or MAN for their summer holidays, hence the popularity of the low-cost airlines in the regions, so we may see some small growth out of town.
Undoubtedly the First Choice merger is off, to merge three tour operators and charter airlines into one would be a logistical nightmare, and wouldn't pass the regulatory requirements. I see First Choice either remaining independent, or potentially being bought out by the mass spending spree that is Virgin.
I'm looking forward in the TCX/MYT merger to see not only a healthier charter airline and tour operator, but also the fleet, base, handling agent and service standardisation that will come out of it.
Humberside From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2005, 4901 posts, RR: 5 Reply 9, posted (6 years 3 months 1 week 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 5782 times:
Quoting Lite (Reply 8): Thomas Cook is a well known brand in the UK, and I would imagine far more punters are aware of it than MyTravel, though I will miss their eye-catching brand, smart uniforms and brightly coloured planes.
I think the only brand that is well known by the public that will disappear is Going Places
Quoting Lite (Reply 8): I wouldn't be so sure though, Humberside, that some of the released aircraft might not be used in the regions. I think the tour operators are waking up to the fact people don't want to drive to LGW or MAN for their summer holidays, hence the popularity of the low-cost airlines in the regions, so we may see some small growth out of town.
I would love that to be the case. I'm sure they could make a based aircraft work in summer at HUY - they already have a large programme using the usual foreign airlines along with the odd 'w' pattern
However the trend recently has been shut the smaller regeional bases. MYT did this a few years ago and now TOM are doing it (LBA STN with MME, LPL and BRS also under threat) along with XLA (HUY and CWL), The new Thomas Cook opening regional bases would go against this trend
Columba From Germany, joined Dec 2004, 6798 posts, RR: 5 Reply 10, posted (6 years 3 months 1 week 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 5734 times:
Quoting A380Heavy (Thread starter): 1) How do you see the merged companies airlines shaping up in terms of aircraft type, numbers and any new aircraft requirements?
I can see them ordering 787-3s and -8s in a very near future to replace older 757s and 767s.
It will forever be a McDonnell Douglas MD 80 , Boeing MD 80 sounds so wrong
FlyKev From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2006, 1349 posts, RR: 6 Reply 11, posted (6 years 3 months 1 week 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 5716 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW FORUM MODERATOR
This will make an interesting fleet, considering that My travel use mainly airbus planes and thomas cook generally have more boeing planes. The only major similarity here I guess is the A330.
Im also going to guess this will mark the end of My Travel being one of the few charter airlines left offering free meals.
Kev.
The white zone is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers only
FlyingColours From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 2315 posts, RR: 11 Reply 12, posted (6 years 3 months 1 week 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 5695 times:
Quoting FlyKev (Reply 11): This will make an interesting fleet, considering that My travel use mainly airbus planes and thomas cook generally have more boeing planes. The only major similarity here I guess is the A330.
Dont forget the A320
I suppose this will be the end of the sole surviving MYT 757.
The question is how is the MT 757 heavy & MYT A321 fleet going to mix? I know that My Travel have axed a very large number of A320s & A321s over the past few years to make their fleet size a little more digestible. Perhaps the 321s will get the boot in favour of the 757?
At least they both operate from the same terminal here at MAN, a lot less of a nightmare than if they chose First Choice who operate from T2
Phil
FlyingColours
Lifes a train racing towards you, now you can either run away or grab a chair & a beer and watch it come - Phil
EI321 From Iraq, joined Jul 2009, 0 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (6 years 3 months 1 week 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 5655 times:
Quoting FlyKev (Reply 11): This will make an interesting fleet, considering that My travel use mainly airbus planes and thomas cook generally have more boeing planes. The only major similarity here I guess is the A330.
Tayaramecanici From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2006, 216 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (6 years 3 months 1 week 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 5551 times:
How does this merger affect the #4 Charter operator MONARCH AIRLINES ? In the war between the charter giants and LCC its the likes of MON that are going to get crushed, i believe.
Looking at the present scenario MON has only 2 options either merge with the likes of excel or sell out.
Interesting.
''You are as good as your nearest competitor'' Bob Crandall.
FlyingColours From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 2315 posts, RR: 11 Reply 17, posted (6 years 3 months 1 week 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 5526 times:
Quoting Tayaramecanici (Reply 14): Looking at the present scenario MON has only 2 options either merge with the likes of excel or sell out.
I'd be more worried about Astraeus, if anyone was going to get crushed it would be AEU because they are so small and take a large proportion of passengers from "Going Places".
A merger with Excel would be very itntresting, of course fleet commonality goes right out of the window with that one
I really hope Monarch stays single because it's the only indipendant charter left with history, (I know AEU is indipendant but it doesn't have a large history) well they have Cosmos but well, ahem.... (falls off high horse)
Phil
FlyingColours
Lifes a train racing towards you, now you can either run away or grab a chair & a beer and watch it come - Phil
Lite From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (6 years 3 months 1 week 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 5485 times:
I've generally been quite shocked at the decisions of the charter airlines to scale back their operations from regional airports, especially when you consider that this goes right against the trend for regional airports to expand, meaning people don't have to make unnecessary trips across the country to begin their holidays. For me, living close to EMA, I can catch the bus to the airport, or even the train down to BHX, and not have to worry about expensive airport taxis or parking, or the hassles of the motorway, which is surely what most customers want - a personal, local experience. I can't help but think Thomsonfly (with the exception of STN where they must be being squeezed by the low-cost airlines) are being very short-sighted in not realising the huge potential of regional airports, especially over the next few years.
Thomas Cook will probably end up operating an Airbus fleet predominantly, though I think the B757s still have a few years in them yet. The two airlines will have 6 Airbus A330s (not sure how these will be spread across the country), a fairly sizeable Airbus A320 fleet (including MYT's 321s) with the anomalies being the B757 and the small MYT B767 fleets. I personally think the Airbus offers the best mixture for the airlines, with fleet commonality for short, medium and longhaul.
I wonder how the airline will rapidly change their operations with individual airports, for example TCX & MYT both have an aircraft based at EMA, each handled by a different handling agent. Will they keep both planes either benefiting from increased frequencies on certain routes or adding new ones where there is overlap? Does TCX have a preferred handling agent nationwide?
EI321 From Iraq, joined Jul 2009, 0 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (6 years 3 months 1 week 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 5473 times:
Quoting Schooner (Reply 15): Ummm, we only have 4 A320s & the plan was/is to get rid of the rest over the next year or two. Obviously the takeover may change all this.
Sorry about that, I was adding the 5 from the other operation, it must be unrealted?
FlyingColours From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 2315 posts, RR: 11 Reply 20, posted (6 years 3 months 1 week 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 5448 times:
Ahh, I thought they still had her, I know they were close to bringing PIDS back but stopped.
Quoting Lite (Reply 18): I wonder how the airline will rapidly change their operations with individual airports
I'd be intrested in how things play out at BRS, My Travel have been fairly consistent over the past few years and have had some aicraft based there but TCX have pulled out of there and only operated a few w-patterns these days.
Quoting Lite (Reply 18): 've generally been quite shocked at the decisions of the charter airlines to scale back their operations from regional airports, especially when you consider that this goes right against the trend for regional airports to expand, meaning people don't have to make unnecessary trips across the country to begin their holidays
While that is true, it is important to think of the costs involved in either basing a crew or aircraft at a small airport or operating w-patterns. In the days of cost cutting it seems that out stations seem to be "a bad idea". I must admit though that I did enjoy flying from other UK airports, it was nice to travel - I don't think that the other crews have the same idea as me there though
Quoting Ryanair737 (Reply 16): Very interesting move, I guess an inclination on this was MYT recieveing a TCX A320 G-BXKB in the next few months.
Really? I noticed that My Travel had been removing a lot of A320s with most heading out to Asia, I guess they got a great deal on the lease.
Phil
FlyingColours
Lifes a train racing towards you, now you can either run away or grab a chair & a beer and watch it come - Phil
Lite From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 22, posted (6 years 3 months 1 week 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 5402 times:
Does anybody know if Thomas Cook have any preference in handling agents? At EMA, Servisair handle MyTravel (and before that Airtours), whilst Menzies handle Thomas Cook (and have done since 2005 despite previously being Servisair handled when JMC & Flying Colours.) This is in line with MYT's decision last summer to sign a new contract favouring Servisair in the UK, and would hope that this will continue after the merger.
Quote:
Penauille Servisair, the Global Aviation Ground Services Company 2006, has concluded a major three-year cooperation agreement with MyTravel Airways, one of the UK’s leading holiday and leisure groups. Under the terms of this renewed contract, Penauille Servisair will provide full ground handling services across 21 airports across the UK.
After intensive negotiations, MyTravel Airways selected Penauille Servisair to renew their contract based upon their proven performance record of delivering high-quality services to the end Customer, the passengers.
The two companies will continue to work as business partners by renewing the multi-station deal at airports across the UK at Aberdeen, Blackpool, Belfast, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, Doncaster, Edinburgh, Nottingham East Midlands, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Glasgow, Humberside, Inverness, Jersey, Leeds, Liverpool, Luton, Newcastle, Sheffield and Durham Tees Valley airports.
Samantha Mackie, MyTravel Airways Customer Service Director comments: “We’re looking forward to continuing our proactive working relationship with Penauille Servisair. They fully understand our aims of delivering consistently high levels of customer care and an outstanding holiday flight experience, whilst assisting us to maintain our excellent standards of on-time departures. We believe that it is imperative to have a partner on the ground that is not only willing to see our customer vision, but can help us to achieve it.”
Darren Harding, Penauille Servisair VP Business Development Low Cost and Charter Carriers, is equally enthusiastic: “We are delighted to have forged this closer professional partnership with MyTravel. Based on our past experience, we look forward to our collaboration to enhance our business process further. We’re convinced that this agreement provides a sound foundation for further developing both our business and our collaboration in the months and years ahead.”
Penauille Servisair will provide comprehensive ground handling services for the MyTravel Airways’ fleet of 19 Airbus 320/321/330 and 3 Boeing 757/767 aircraft. The Services provided by Penauille Servisair will include ticket desk, check-in, passenger and baggage handling, ramp services, fuelling, load control and communications, representation and accommodation, station supervision and administration, surface transport of passengers and crew, flight dispatch, Customer aftercare services and mail handling and aircraft maintenance.
In both instances the airlines are going to be concerned if they see their customer tour operators merging. It means there will be uncertainty.
However... both these airlines, and the likes of Flyjet / European Air Charter etc. serve a purpose as they are used by Tour Operators for extra capacity where needed, to launch new destinations where existing aircraft may be too large to launch new routes, or to operate seasonal bases without having to commit to all year round manning.
Furthermore there are still independant operators and seat brokers who don't want to use the aircraft of the vertically integrated operators like Thomsonfly. First Choice, MyTravel or Thomas Cook.
Of course Monarch is growing its scheduled business, and Astraeus has its niche operatoins to Africa and oil industry destinations
Quoting Ryanair737 (Reply 16): I guess an inclination on this was MYT recieveing a TCX A320 G-BXKB in the next few months
I'd just put this down to coincidence.
Quoting Ryanair737 (Reply 16): wonder what timscale Thomas Cook is working on for the re-painted a/c, re-branded travel shops etc?
Even if the merger is completed by June, then I wouldn't expect to see much change during the rest of this years summer seasons. Growing links maybe, but I'd expect a full review of current operatoins, before the plan for the future is announced.
Quoting FlyingColours (Reply 20): I'd be intrested in how things play out at BRS, My Travel have been fairly consistent over the past few years and have had some aicraft based there but TCX have pulled out of there and only operated a few w-patterns these days.
Though BRS seems to be in the ascendance for TCX. MYT turned the base into summer only.
TCX have more flights now than the last few years, and there is talk that they will be back with an all year round base. Presuming the merger takes place, then this would seem a definite.
Schooner From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 139 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (6 years 3 months 1 week 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 5351 times:
Quoting Lite (Reply 22): Does anybody know if Thomas Cook have any preference in handling agents
Yes we do, the cheapest !
Cheers.
Untouched and Alive
25 Ryanair737: TCX use SAS handling at MAN if that is any help. 737
26 Airman99o: Hey there, G-WJAN is now C-FFAN with Skyservice. This 757 has been going back and fourth between MYT and SSV for a few years now, I do believe it is n
27 LGW: The back of MYT! Thank god for that. - Interesting news although not totally surprising. One thing that strikes me as odd is the amount of advertising
28 Jetset7E7: TCX is handled by SAS overwing, and Ringway Handling Services underwing at MAN. MYT is MyTravel overwing, Ringway Handling Services underwing. Mark
29 Jmc757: Anyone see a major branch closure programme looming, especially in large cities? In Coventry city centre we have 2 Going Places branches and 2 Thomas
30 FlyingColours: Well the Airtours brand is still very strong as far as the tour operator side goes, as an airline it had a bad rep because they had many major delays
31 Scbriml: Thomas Cook is well known around the World. It is the World's first (and therefore oldest) travel company. I was in India last week and most of the c
32 LGW: Monarch are very well placed to compete, in fact I think are better than the merger airline will be with a good combination of manageable charter wor
33 TCXDegsy: Although this article doens't answer much of the aviation queries, this does go a little more into the merger: "Further acquisitions and growth in onl
34 ThomasCook: Hi, This is great news for the UK travel industry where consolidation is much needed! MyTravel and Thomas Cook are now well placed to become the UK's
35 Lite: Thank you for everybody's input concerning the handling agents. We're all looking forward to seeing what direction the merged company will be taking i
36 Tayaramecanici: Most of the MON Schd product operates out of airports with a sizeable TCX/MYT prescence. The MON Schd avoids direct competition with the likes of EZY
37 Cardiffairtaxi: I can see both CWL & BRS becoming year round bases,rather than just winter only. I ferry MYT crew around Cardiff and Bristol,and the general concensus
38 Fell90: Hi lite, nice to have a fellow EMAer on here....have to say tho, i work for Menzies but dont hold that against me, we aren't all bad! haha. on the ha
39 Lite: Very nice to see somebody else from the East Midlands Airport, not only that, but from the handling agent scene. I had heard Thomas Cook was moving ba
40 ThomasCook: Hi, Guess again, S08 goes on sale in around 7 weeks time! I would imagine quite a few new routes will be made available with the combined fleet of lon
41 Humberside: Or the 3rd option - increase the aomount of scheduled flying Dont forget though there are many smaller tour operators such as Olympic and Cosmos that
42 Fell90: i dont think it is confirmed, as we would need loads more men and as far as i know only 18 are being taken on in total! We have TCX this summer, as we
43 Lite: Servisair have the Air Malta contract, we handle them at quite a lot of bases throughout the country, alongside XL Airways, and as far as I'm aware a
44 8herveg: What is the AS bit? Why's this? Surely the fleet size at each hub would stay the same? Just because two airlines merge, doesn't mean that the market
45 ThomasCook: Hi, Summer 2008 preliminary programmes have already finalised and can be tweaked where needed. A lot of flights for S08 when they go on sale in April
46 Lite: It doesn't make sense to keep two airlines, with similar fleets and operations, operating under two AOCs, each with their own infrastructure, when th
47 ThomasCook: Hi, We have an early indication of what changes will happen to the brands of the combined MyTravel/Thomas Cook Group: Here's comment from John Bloodwo
48 BMIbaby733: Ummm, this all sounds rather interesting. I'm flying with MYT to florida in June, do you think i'll be affected in anyway? be it changing from a MYT A
49 ThomasCook: Hi, I highly doubt much in the way of change will be noticeable until November at the earliest or even Summer 2008. The merger is set to be complete b
50 BMIbaby733: Ahhh ok cool cheers for the reply. As far as having a GREAT flight on MYT's A332, are you joking? I've been on the same flight before and it's anythin
51 BCAL: Why should Monarch be affected? People tend to forget that Monarch is the longest established UK independent charter airline, having been established
53 FlyingColours: Air Operators Certificate It's the liscense that the airline must have to be allowed to fly, the airline needs a lot of things in order to get one (f
54 TCXDegsy: I think in terms of which name survives, I expect the Thomas Cook brand and the Airtours brands to work side by side as Tour Operator names, under "Th
55 Aidoair: I have heard that Mytravel airways will be intergrated into Thomas cook airlines effective November 1st 2007 which seems about the right time to do it
56 Cornish: I think we can put this down to the curse of Airliner World magazine. Next month's issue is supposed to carry a story on the "improving fortunes" of t
57 Lite: I was wondering exactly the same thing. The Globus Travel Company who own amongst other companies Cosmos and Monarch, are as far as I'm aware doing v
58 Caaardiff: According to Jethro's the MYT 763's are to leave. This makes up a total fleet of A320, A321, A330 and 757's. With only 4 321's in MYT's fleet, would t
59 Jetset7E7: 3 A321's G-DHJH, NIKO, SMTJ. Why does everyone keep saying it will affect Monarch? It won't effect them one bit! They have a fantastic scheduled prod
60 Caaardiff: Is G-OMYK from First Choice still happening?
61 ThomasCook: Hi, The A321s will not be leaving the fleet any time soon with another one due into service with MyTravel by April from First Choice. By getting rid o
62 Sunshine79: The MyTravel uniform has been unveiled and is extremely similar to the Thomas Cook uniform, except the stripes are diagonal instead of vertical on th
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