Thomsonfly to focus on charter holiday flights

[October 22nd 2008]

Airline Thomsonfly has announced that it will stop its scheduled services from Coventry airport in order to concentrate on charter holiday flights.

The last Thomsonfly flights from Coventry airport will be on November 2nd. The last inbound Thomsonfly flights will arrive on November 9th. Customers with bookings after these dates are being contacted to arrange alternative flights or a refund.

Since the merger between tour operator giants Thomson and First Choice last year, Thomsonfly says it has had less of a focus on scheduled flights. The airline says it will continue to operate from 23 airports across the UK, including airports within easy reach for Coventry residents such as Birmingham, East Midlands, Doncaster, Luton and Stansted.

"As part of the planning process, we continuously review our operations in the UK and Ireland to ensure we run as efficient a business model as possible,” explains Thomsonfly managing director, Chris Browne.

“With an increased focus on charter holiday flights, there is now a growing need for our aircraft on these routes and consequently our scheduled operations at Coventry Airport will regrettably terminate,” Browne continues.

“We will work with all our customers to ensure minimal disruption to any bookings and hope the many loyal people that have travelled with us from Coventry, will continue to benefit from our great value flights departing from other UK airports. We have had an excellent relationship with the airport to date and we would like to thank them for their support," he concludes.

Following the merger between Thomsonfly and First Choice Airways, the airline will be known as Thomson Airways from May next year. Thomson Airways will become the third largest airline in the UK with a fleet of 65 planes.

Thomsonfly and First Choice Airways have been flying under one Civil Aviation Authority Air Operator's Certificate since May this year, but rebranding work on the combined fleet could take another year or more.

Thomson Airways is scheduled to receive the UK’s first delivery of the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in 2010. Parent company TUI Travel has ordered 23 Dreamliners for long haul flights to replace existing aircraft.

Written by: Nick Purdom

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