- Thomas Cook Airlines introduces additional aircraft based at Stansted – operating two Airbus A321 from June 2014
- New Thomas Cook destinations - Corfu, Fuerteventura, Heraklion, Izmir, Kefalonia, Kos, Rhodes and Skiathos – and increased frequency to popular resorts
Flights and holidays on sale now – www.flythomascook.com and www.thomascook.com
Thomas Cook Airlines has today announced that, from June 2014, it will operate two aircraft from London Stansted Airport – using the larger Airbus A321 replacing the existing A320 – bringing an increased amount of flights and holidays which are now on sale for holidaymakers from the East and South East of England.
The additional and larger aircraft means that a range of new destinations are now within reach of holidaymakers travelling from Stansted, including new Thomas Cook destinations of Corfu, Fuerteventura, Heraklion, Izmir, Kefalonia, Kos, Rhodes and - brand new to Stansted - Skiathos – as well as increased frequency to popular resorts. These new flights and holidays are now on sale from www.flythomascook.com and www.thomascook.com.
Rob Thompson, Thomas Cook Airline’s Director of Planning, said: “Our growing partnership with London Stansted is great news for those holidaymakers in the East and South East of England looking for an airline and airport closer to home to help them travel to more destinations.
“We believe that this area of the country is currently underserved with respect of airport departures to holiday destinations and that demand exists to make our partnership with the airport a continued success.
“With more flights, more holidays and a more frequent service to the most popular resorts, next summer is set to bring an unprecedented Thomas Cook holiday atmosphere to Stansted.”
Stansted Airport’s Managing Director, Andrew Harrison, said: “Today’s announcement by Thomas Cook is excellent news for Stansted and our passengers and another significant step on the road to providing more choice to more destinations from the airport than ever before.
“Under new ownership, we have very ambitious plans for Stansted, including an £80 million re-vamp of the award-winning terminal to transform the passenger experience and services, and to compete for and attract new routes, airlines and passengers in the London market.
“This new agreement with Thomas Cook demonstrates their confidence in M.A.G to deliver great value and quality service at Stansted. There is huge demand for air travel in our catchment area, and we know people prefer to fly from their local airport when possible, so this fantastic news is a real positive development in providing more choice and more flights to even more destinations for passengers in London and the eastern region.”
From June 2014, Thomas Cook Airlines will serve 18 destinations from London Stansted Airport, with over 150,000 passengers each year flying with the airline from the airport.
As well as calling into any of Thomas Cook or Co-operative Travel stores, Thomas Cook Airlines’ flight-only offers are available at www.flythomascook.com. Thomas Cook’s Summer 2014 holidays are available now at www.thomascook.com or by calling 0844 412 5970.
Commenting on the increase in flights and holidays from London Stansted, Kate Needham, Area Business Manager (East) for Thomas Cook stores said: “We always see demand for local departures from London Stansted - it’s the first thing people ask for. These new flights will mean that we are now able to offer even more holidays and increased options for different durations to our top destinations – great news for holidaymakers in our region.”
Thomas Cook Holidays from Stansted in 2014
Thomas Cook - 7 nights in Skiathos from £449 per person, staying at the 3 star Myrtia Apartments in on self-catering, London Stansted – 6th June 2014
www.thomascook.com, 0844 412 5970 or visit the nearest Thomas Cook or Co-operative Travel
Thomas Cook - 7 nights in Zante from £569 per person, staying at the 3 star Margarita Hotel in Laganas on all-inclusive, London Stansted - 5th June 2014
www.thomascook.com, 0844 412 5970 or visit the nearest Thomas Cook or Co-operative Travel
Airtours - 7 nights in Kos from £439 per person, staying at the 3 star Kalloudis Apartments in Tingaki on self-catering, London Stansted – 7th June 2014
www.thomascook.com, 0844 412 5970 or visit the nearest Thomas Cook or Co-operative Travel
Airtours - 7 nights in Turkey from £419 per person, staying at the 3 star Derici Hotel in Kusadasi on bed and breakfast, London Stansted – 5th June 2014
www.thomascook.com, 0844 412 5970 or visit the nearest Thomas Cook or Co-operative Travel
Correct at time of issue and subject to change, inclusive of flights, transfers and accommodation as specified. Other optional extras such as in-flight meals, Choose Your Seat and 5kg additional luggage allowance may be applicable at the time of booking.
The world’s largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380, touched down at Stansted Airport for the very first time.
The new British Airways superjumbo flew into the airport as part of the airline's flight training programme before the aircraft enters long-haul service later this year. The test flight also enabled the crew to familiarise themselves with the operational requirements and layout of Stansted’s airfield in the event the aircraft has to divert as a precaution or if its destination airport is unavailable.
Stansted was awarded Code F status by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in 2010, allowing aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 747-8 to operate from the airport. Three 747-8 freighters have been based at the airport since 2011 but today’s visit was the first chance to test the airport’s ability to accommodate an A380, known as the ‘whispering giant’ due it its significantly lower noise levels compared to its nearest rivals.
Stansted Airport’s Managing Director, Andrew Harrison, said:
“Stansted is a world class airport that has the ability to accommodate the new generation of aircraft thanks to its ‘future proof’ design and layout so today is a fantastic occasion as we welcome our first ever Airbus A380.
“This fabulous aircraft is more fuel efficient than its predecessors and is one of the quietest planes in the sky - it really is a whispering giant. The state-of-the-art aircraft demonstrates the continual improvements made in design and technology by the aviation industry to meet the dual challenge of providing for passenger growth while reducing environmental impacts.
“We have made clear it’s our ambition to grow Stansted by attracting more airlines, providing more choice of destinations and making it better for passengers than ever before, ultimately becoming the best airport in London. Airlines using aircraft such as the A380 are exactly the type of carriers we are looking to attract to Stansted as we compete to win new business and put the airport back on a path to growth.
“Today was a test flight for BA and its A380 but it’s a significant milestone for Stansted and recognition we can accommodate any aircraft from anywhere in the world. Stansted has the ability to double the number of flights it handles almost overnight so today highlights the potential the airport offers to airlines looking to access the London market using the world’s largest commercial planes.”
Stansted Airport will open a new ‘Meet and Greet’ parking service next month, a premium service for budget conscious travellers costing as little as £7.30 a day.
The new service, which opens for business on 1st July 2013 in time for the busy summer season, can be pre-booked online now at www.stanstedairport.com/parking.
‘Meet and Greet’ is an affordable luxury for smaller budgets, located in the Short Stay Car Park, only a short walk from the terminal building and is ideal for passengers who want to leave cars close to the terminal, don’t want a premium Valet service on the forecourt and want to avoid charges for parking in Short Stay while they’re away. Customers also have the reassurance that vehicles are only moved a short distance to a secure area within the airport until their return.
Speaking about the new ‘Meet and Greet’ option for Stansted Airport customers, Head of Travel Services Kevin Day said:
“Under our new ownership there is a real focus on transforming the passenger experience and this new ‘Meet and Greet’ service not only gives our car park customers another option but is a premium style product at an affordable price.
“Valet Parking has always been very popular here but customer feedback tells us that there is demand for a service that sits between premium Valet and standard Short Stay that balances the convenience of both those options at a competitive price. We hope that the new ‘Meet and Greet’ service fills that gap and I’m looking forward to welcoming our first customers next month.”
Stansted Airport now offer five different parking options for passengers looking to leave cars at the airport whilst away, all of which can be pre-booked online for the cheapest rates. Drop off arrangements for each are as follows:
OPTION WHERE TO LEAVE CAR DISTANCE TO TERMINAL
Valet Main forecourt Direct access to terminal
Meet and Greet Short Stay – dedicated area Short walk to terminal
Short Stay Any Short Stay zone Short walk to terminal
Mid Stay Any Mid-Stay zone Courtesy shuttle to forecourt
5 min journey time
Long Stay Any Long Stay zone Courtesy shuttle to forecourt
10-15 minute journey time
For further information on all car parking options at Stansted visit www.stanstedairport.com/driving and to pre-book online for the cheapest rates visit www.stanstedairport.com/parking
Manchester Airports Group (M.A.G) has submitted its response to the Airports Commission on proposals to make the best use of existing capacity in the next ten to fifteen years - the period before new runway capacity can be delivered.
M.A.G has advised the Commission that well targeted policy support from Government would contribute significantly to making more effective use of existing capacity, enhancing airport competition and providing greater choice and international connectivity for consumers. M.A.G's proposals include:
- Reforming Air Passenger Duty (APD) to promote the take-up of capacity and enhance international connectivity;
- Improving surface access to airports with spare capacity, and in particular cutting the rail journey time to Stansted to 30 minutes to enable fairer competition between London airports;
- Exploring reforms that would make more effective use of the scarce capacity at Heathrow and improve the allocation of demand around the London system;
- Promoting de-regulation as a way to strengthen competition between the London airports and encourage investment; and
- Further liberalising bilateral policy to open up capacity to overseas airlines.
Charlie Cornish, Chief Executive of the Manchester Airports Group (M.A.G), said: "The Airports Commission’s interim report provides an opportunity for the UK to make a firm statement about the future of economic growth in the country. We have watched other countries develop their aviation infrastructure for the benefit of their economies and we have the opportunity to do the same.
“With new runway capacity unlikely to be available for at least ten to fifteen years, it is critical that airports and Government do everything possible to make the best use of capacity that already exists. M.A.G airports have a big role to play in providing improved connectivity for the whole of the UK, and our submission outlines the steps the Government needs to take to help achieve this goal."
Stansted Airport’s Managing Director, Andrew Harrison, said:
“Stansted has substantial spare capacity across the day, which gives us the potential over the next 10 to 15 years to grow and compete strongly to win traffic from other airports. This will provide much needed breathing space in the London system, improving UK connectivity and delivering significant economic benefits.
“Key to unlocking this potential is improving surface rail access to Stansted, critically making rail journey times competitive with other main London airports. A 30 minute journey time would not only put Stansted on an equal footing but would also encourage significantly more passengers to choose Stansted over other London airports, helping relieve pressure on busier airports and making best use of existing capacity.”
Greg Clark, Chairman of the London Stansted Corridor Consortium, said:
“The London-Stansted-Cambridge Corridor links the world’s leading university, and the world’s leading city, with an airport that has the planning and infrastructure in place to double in size. As such Stansted Airport offers huge potential to be a key driver for the UK’s high-tech knowledge economy. With significant space and permission to grow now, unlike other London airports, Stansted has a pivotal role to play in the national aviation debate as well as helping to foster economic growth in Corridor and serving to attract much needed connectivity to the US and Middle East for the thriving business clusters in Cambridge, Tech-City, Stratford and Harlow.
“We recommend in the short term that Sir Howard Davies and the Government listen to our calls for better rail links to the airport. The commission needs to push for the incentives and deregulation at Stansted to attract new long haul airlines so that it can reach its full potential and become a major driver for our economy.”
The Best Use Submission was also submitted alongside M.A.G’s response on Climate Change to the Airports Commission. M.A.G has a strong environmental track-record and is committed to the responsible operation and development of the Group’s airports. It aims to make best use of natural resources and minimise the environmental impact of airport operations.
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