WestJet expands agreement with Thomas Cook Canada

[theaveragejoe]

CALGARY, April 18, 2012 /CNW/ - WestJet today announced an expanded and exclusive agreement with Thomas Cook that will see WestJet provide more seat capacity for Thomas Cook's Sunquest vacation product for the 2012-2013 winter season. As an expansion to its successful, two-year, Canada-wide, partnership with Thomas Cook, WestJet will be the only airline providing capacity for Thomas Cook's tour operator arm in the Canadian market.

"We are very pleased to announce this expanded relationship," commented Gregg Saretsky, WestJet President and CEO. "Thomas Cook's decision to fly from the Canadian market with our aircraft speaks to its confidence in what our WestJetters do so well. We look forward to welcoming on board even more Sunquest guests in the near future."

"Known for its quality, reliability and outstanding customer service, WestJet has been a key partner for Sunquest and the wider portfolio of Thomas Cook Canada brands for the last couple of years," said Dean Moore, Chief Executive Officer, Thomas Cook North America. "Building upon an already strong and mutually beneficial partnership, this enhanced relationship provides us with the opportunity to expand our product offering by taking advantage of the significant scale of WestJet's fleet and the breadth of their network. It gives us room to grow, the flexibility we were looking for and further opportunity to provide Sunquest customers with exceptional vacation experiences from start to finish."

"Not only will this improve our fleet utilization, it provides further economic justification for WestJet's fleet growth in the coming years," continued Gregg Saretsky. "We have now made the decision to cover a component of the Thomas Cook seat purchase by extending the leases on three aircraft that were due to be returned in early 2013. Together with three new aircraft deliveries in 2012 and five in 2013, our entire fleet of Boeing Next-Generation 737s creates a unique opportunity for WestJet to serve the capacity needs of the Thomas Cook Canada business in a cost-effective way."

WestJet's 2012-2013 winter schedule will be announced in late July

[BM5 via Woodhaven]

I know MacArthur Airport in Rokonkoma wants Air-Canada to be offered. IMO, the LGA flights should be West-Jet while AirCanada should get MacArthur. More seats well.. Sometimes is not the best idea

[theaveragejoe]

I know MacArthur Airport in Rokonkoma wants Air-Canada to be offered. IMO, the LGA flights should be West-Jet while AirCanada should get MacArthur. More seats well.. Sometimes is not the best idea

 

Thats off topic nothing to do with what I posted. Also Air Canada services LGA, JFK and Newark. Westjet services LGA (coming up) and Newark

[theaveragejoe]

Jazz Aviation LP receives notification of Thomas Cook Canada's intention to discontinue Flight Services Agreement

HALIFAX, Apr 13, 2012, 2012 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) --Jazz Aviation LP ("Jazz") announces that it has received notification from Thomas Cook Canada Inc. ("Thomas Cook") of its intention to discontinue operating dedicated charter aircraft, branded as Thomas Cook Canada, due to market conditions. As a consequence, the remaining three years of the five-year flight services agreement with Jazz will be terminated effective April 30, 2012.

"A change in market dynamics means that we need to introduce more flexible flying arrangements; the consequence of that is the decision to discontinue our dedicated fleet of 757 aircraft. The Jazz team did a great job in operating our Thomas Cook Canada flights and we thank them for the expertise, guidance and support they provided during the last two years," said Dean Moore, Chief Executive Officer of Thomas Cook North America.

In 2010, Jazz signed a five-year flight services agreement with Thomas Cook to operate a dedicated charter fleet of six Boeing 757-200 aircraft to various sun destinations from Canadian gateways during the winter season.

"We are very disappointed that the current market conditions require Thomas Cook to restructure its operations," said Joseph Randell, President and Chief Executive Officer, Jazz. "We enjoyed working with the Thomas Cook team and our employees can be proud of the solid operational performance and customer service they delivered."

Jazz will continue to operate the Thomas Cook Canada flights, as scheduled, for the remainder of the winter 2011-2012 program and proceed with the normal seasonal wind down of this operation by April 28, 2012.

As the majority of Thomas Cook flying block hours planned for the year 2012 will be completed by April 28, 2012, there will be no change to Jazz's billable block-hour guidance for the year ended December 31, 2012 of between 385,000 and 400,000.

Jazz and Thomas Cook have reached a commercial settlement in respect of the termination of the flight services agreement, the economic terms of which reflect the original and intended expiration of the agreement, regarding the recovery of certain initial start-up costs and foregone revenues. The details of this settlement are confidential under its terms.

 

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