Belfast, Northern Ireland, 2013-12-12 — /travelprnews.com/ — Following the recent arrival of Thomas Cook Airlines UK @FlyTC first new A321 into its fleet, registration G-TCDC, the aircraft is now set to take up its role based at Belfast International Airport taking holidaymakers from Northern Ireland on holiday to destinations across Europe and North Africa. The aircraft, which was this week christened ‘Sunny Heart’ to reflect that it’s also the airline’s first aircraft to exhibit the new livery, arrives on the evening of 12 December. The aircrafts first departure from Belfast will take place at 0945 on Friday 13th December taking holidaymakers to Tenerife for their wintersun holiday.
G-TCDC is the second of the 23 new A321 aircraft ordered by the Thomas Cook Group to be delivered by 2016 as it replaces almost a third of its short and medium-haul fleet with brand new aircraft. Six of these aircraft will be deployed in the UK by the summer season of 2014.
Christoph Debus, Chairman of Thomas Cook Group Airlines and CEO of Thomas Cook Airlines UK said, “Today marks the beginning of an exciting phase for our UK airline, as the first of our new aircraft enters service in Belfast bringing a new experience for our customers at the start of their holiday. Dressed in its new livery, the aircraft is an icon for the new Thomas Cook and the new Thomas Cook Airlines – we are really pleased to be bringing our new ‘Sunny Heart’ to Northern Ireland.”
Uel Hoey, Belfast International Airport business development director, said, “We are delighted that Belfast is the first base to receive this fantastic new aircraft cementing the longstanding relationship which we have with Thomas Cook. 2013 has marked the airport celebrating its 50th anniversary and also by an appropriate quirk of symmetry it is 25 years since predecessors to the modern-day Thomas Cook began operations from Northern Ireland. This new aircraft marks an important milestone leading into a new era in our partnership. We look forward to welcoming you on-board during 2014.”
G-TCDC is the first Airbus aircraft in the Thomas Cook Group – and one of a very small number of such aircraft overall – to be fitted with wing-tip Sharklets which help the aircraft fly using less fuel, contributing to an overall fuel efficiency of up to 6 per cent compared to the existing aircraft in the fleet. The aircraft is also the first narrow-body aircraft to be fitted with OANS (On Airport Navigation System).
As well as being the first new Airbus A321-211 to enter the UK fleet, the aircraft is the second of the 23 new Airbus A321 aircraft to be delivered to the Thomas Cook Group Airlines by 2016, previously announced in early 2013. This follows the first new aircraft which was delivered to Thomas Cook Airlines UK’s sister German airline, Condor @CondoreAirline, in May 2013.
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Notes to editors:
About Thomas Cook Airlines UK
Thomas Cook Airlines UK (TCX) is part of the Thomas Cook Group and operates over from 20 airports across the UK, carrying 6.7m passengers to over 50 short-, medium- and long haul airports with over 200 holiday destinations including North America, the Caribbean Sea and India, as well as resorts across Europe. With over 2,500 employees across its 10 UK bases and at its head office and maintenance operations at Manchester Airport, the airline has a fleet of 31 Airbus and Boeing narrow and wide body aircraft.
Thomas Cook Airlines UK will launch new routes to the Caribbean from Manchester in November 2013, and recently announced more flights and new destinations from Stansted Airport in Summer 2014. For Winter 2014/15, the airline will introduce long haul flights to Varadero in Cuba and Montego Bay in Jamaica from Manchester, making them year round destinations.
As well as carrying Thomas Cook package holiday customers, the airline retails seat only sales on all of its flights – for more information visit www.flythomascook.com. Thomas Cook Airlines UK is part of the Thomas Cook Group Airlines which also includes Condor (Germany), Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium and Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia.
Christoph Debus, Chairman of Thomas Cook Group Airlines and CEO of Thomas Cook Airlines UK
A321-211 Specification:
- Crew: 2x Pilots (2 extra Observer Seats) , 5x Cabin Crew (2x Jump seats in Cabin)
- MTOW 93,5 tons, Sharklets fitted
- 2 x CFM 56‐5B 3/3 with noise reduction package and 33.000lbs thrust / ICAO Stage 4
- 215 TC‐customized Recaro BL3520 Seats / All Y‐Class
- 2 Galleys (5x ovens, 5x water boiler), 4x lavatories
- Digital IFE Rockwell Collins dPaves with 10’’ overhead monitors
- 1x additional centre tank (ACT) installed (2nd is provisioned)
- linefit eFB class 2, OANS, SATCOM, 2x VHF, 1x HF