By: Super Nimrod - 3rd March 2009 at 18:08
Got my holiday flights come through today. Same flight last year was an FCA flight number and this year its a TOM :rolleyes: Half expecting it to be the same old 757 as well, with maybe a few rebranding stickers on it.
By: rdc1000 - 3rd March 2009 at 15:59
No. The combined airlines are now Thomson Airways. First Choice Airways no longer exists as a brand nor does Thomsonfly apart from obviously on the aircraft livery.
It is the travel companies themselves that are still seperate brands however working together under TUI Travel because of the popularity of them both within the UK and Ireland.
Apologies, you are correct, it is purely the Travel Brands which will remain seperate. It appears that Thomson Airways, as a brand (rather than the entity, as I highlighted earlier) will come about in May. Interestingly, the same source suggested on another part of their site that the airline would have two brands.
Thomson Airways to be single name for First Choice, Thomsonfly
Graham Dunn, London (16Jun08, 10:28 GMT, 232 words)UK charter carriers Thomsonfly and First Choice Airways are to merge and operate under the Thomson Airways brand from next summer following last year’s merger of their parent company.
The in-house airlines became part of TUI Travel after the merger of tour operators TUI and First Choice in September last year and have been operating under a single air operator’s certificate (AOC) since May. Pilots at the two carriers are flying together and more integration work is planned for the coming months.
Newly-formed Thomson Airways’ managing director, Chris Browne, says: “Our aim is to build on the very best from these two award-winning airlines that share a very strong drive to provide a truly exceptional customer experience. By incorporating both airlines under one name, we will now operate 65 aircraft to over 80 destinations from 21 airports in the UK.”
The carriers will begin joint operations as Thomson Airways from May next year. While the airline will operate under one brand, the company will continue to operate the Thomson and First Choice brands on the high street. Rebranding of the fleet to Thomson Airways colours will be carried out over the next two years.
Both carriers currently operate Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft for longer-haul operations, while on short-haul routes First Choice operates Airbus A320/321s and Thomsonfly a mix of Boeing 737-300/500/800s. The group also has 23 Boeing 787 aircraft on order.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
By: aidoair - 3rd March 2009 at 15:44
Well, one or both airlines may be getting a new livery, but they are not merging the brands so there will be (at this time) no rebranding of the FCA aircraft as Thomson(fly).
No. The combined airlines are now Thomson Airways. First Choice Airways no longer exists as a brand nor does Thomsonfly apart from obviously on the aircraft livery.
It is the travel companies themselves that are still seperate brands however working together under TUI Travel because of the popularity of them both within the UK and Ireland.
By: rdc1000 - 3rd March 2009 at 13:43
I thought I heard that they would be getting a new livery when their merger was confirmed.
I could of misheard it though. 🙂
Well, one or both airlines may be getting a new livery, but they are not merging the brands so there will be (at this time) no rebranding of the FCA aircraft as Thomson(fly).
By: PMN - 3rd March 2009 at 13:39
Well the airline industry is struggling right now, I guess saving thousands of pounds by not repainting all the combined fleet when it doesn’t really need it is a wise choice.
In the end it isn’t going to bother your average Joe either.
Pretty much what I was going to write! 😀
Paul
By: Future Pilot - 3rd March 2009 at 13:36
Well the airline industry is struggling right now, I guess saving thousands of pounds by not repainting all the combined fleet when it doesn’t really need it is a wise choice.
In the end it isn’t going to bother your average Joe either.
By: EGTC - 3rd March 2009 at 13:21
I thought I heard that they would be getting a new livery when their merger was confirmed.
I could of misheard it though. 🙂
By: rdc1000 - 3rd March 2009 at 09:29
Are they even bothering repainting their ex FCA planes ?
This time last year TCX were nearly finished with the MYT lot.
Although they have been combined to form Thomson Airways, the two airlines are due to continue to operate under seperate brands (at least for now), so unlike TCX/MYT, there will be no repainting.
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March 3, 2009 at 1:37 am