Firm behind RAF Voyager to operate Thomas Cook flights

Several of Thomas Cook Airlines’ new long-haul flights to the US and the Caribbean are to be operated by the company behind the controversial RAF Voyager programme.

Thomas Cook announced today that it had agreed to lease an A330 from AirTanker, the private firm that provides the air force with 14 militarised versions of the jet.

Under the terms of the three-year deal, Thomas Cook will lease one A330-200 from AirTanker’s ‘surge fleet’. It will fly under the new Thomas Cook livery but it will be operated by AirTanker under its civil Air Operator’s Certificate from May 2015.

The aircraft will operate scheduled flights from Glasgow, Manchester and Stansted to Las Vegas, Cancun and Orlando.

AirTanker managing director Dave Mitchard said the deal represented ‘a first in civil aircraft leasing’. He said: "AirTanker and Thomas Cook Airlines have reached provisional agreement on leasing terms against one of our A330-200 surge fleet aircraft with a full agreement expected shortly.

"This is a significant milestone and achievement for AirTanker and one which is representative of the significant progress that we are making across both our core service to the RAF and in our developing aircraft leasing capability." 

AirTanker, whose shareholders include Airbus Group and Rolls Royce, provides 14 Airbus to the Ministry of Defence, including a core fleet of nine for the RAF (known as Voyagers) and a further five – the surge fleet – to lease to the civil market.

In February, the RAF was forced to temporarily ground its entire Voyager fleet after one of the A330s plunged 5,000-feet while carrying troups to Afghanistan.

The Thomas Cook A330 will be fitted with 323 economy seats. Six Thomas Cook Airlines captains and four First Officers will be seconded to AirTanker, flying alongside the Air Tanker’s own civilian pilots.

The cabin service will be performed by a cabin crew provided by Thomas Cook Airlines. Thomas Cook will also provide line maintenance with base maintenance delivered by AirTanker.

Christoph Debus, Thomas Cook Group Airlines chairman said: "Over the last few months we’ve announced new routes to the Caribbean and more recently a scheduled service to New York and Miami from Manchester alongside new long haul routes to the US from Belfast, Glasgow and Stansted.

"This ground-breaking deal with AirTanker, which may be extended in the future, will allow us to bring a brand new A330 to serve our new routes alongside our refurbished long haul fleet and illustrates the transformation of our airline as we look to bring a new level of reliability and comfort to our customers." 

Thomas Cook Airlines seconded flight crew will also support AirTanker’s civil/charter service in support of the Falklands air-bridge. This is operated by AirTanker on the Civil Aircraft Register under an independent Air Operators Certificate, with its own pilots and civilian cabin crew.

The deal with Thomas Cook Airlines, is agreed directly between AirTanker and Thomas Cook for AirTanker-owned aircraft and sits outside that already in place with the MOD. No RAF crew will be employed in its delivery, said the company.