Thomas Cook Airlines is to double the number of aircraft it operates at Stansted next summer and launch eight new routes from the airport.
LONDON – From June 2014 the airline will replace its existing Airbus A320 at Stansted with two, bigger, A321s.
The expansion will enable Thomas Cook to add services to Corfu, Fuerteventura, Heraklion, Izmir, Kefalonia, Kos, Rhodes and Skiathos, and increase frequencies to existing destinations.
Skiathos will be a new route for Stansted.
Rob Thompson, Thomas Cook Airlines’ 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.’
The airport’s managing director, Andrew Harrison, added: ‘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 £80m 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 Stansted, carrying over 150,000 passengers a year.
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