JMC an expensive waste – some might say
ABTA Convention Special: Thomas Cook is planning to scale back the use of its JMC tour operating brand to make better use of its own name.
Thomas Cook chief executive Alan Stewart, who replaced MyTravel chairman David Crossland as a speaker at the ABTA Convention, said the JMC name would be replaced by Thomas Cook on its airlines.
In addition, the JMC name will be used only on its mass-market family product.
The JMC brand has been the subject of much ridicule since its controversial launch in the late 1990s.
When asked if it had been an “expensive waste of money”, Stewart replied that “some might say that”.
“But it was a necessary step in our buildng process,” said Stewart. We want to make better use of the Thomas Cook name on the airline.
“Also, at its launch, it was not possible to sell a Thomas Cook branded operator in other retailers, but the climate has changed. So we will be making more use of the name.”
In a wide-ranging interview, Stewart admitted its long-haul operator Accoladia had suffered a drop in bookings post September 11 and was currently losing money. But he said the company would stick with it.
Stewart ruled out launching a no-frills airline.
Read the latest news from the ABTA Cairo Convention 2002:
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Carrick makes robust defence of MyTravel
BA chief Rod Eddington: We got it wrong
Industry reports tough year
New rule on consumer protection
ABTA against new airport in the South East
TUI plans image boost for Thomson
Most package holidays still booked with agents
Differentiation the key for agents
Consumers in the north ‘particularly resistant to agent fees’
BA whittled down agent calls with premium rate number
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