Thomas Cook Group Airlines is growing

Thomas Cook Group Airlines will increase its capacity for Summer 2018 by 10 per cent, following the acquisition of Air Berlin assets and the launch of its new Palma-based airline, Thomas Cook Airlines Balearics. These new platforms for growth will support the addition of 10 aircraft to Thomas Cook Group Airlines’, consistent with its plans to grow capacity to meet increased customer demand in its key markets of Germany and the UK in recent months.

A significant proportion of the capacity growth will come from an increase in short and medium haul flights in Thomas Cook’s German airline, <link https: www.condor.com de external-link-new-window external link in new>Condor. Last week, the German aviation authorities granted an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) for Air Berlin Aviation GmbH, the air operating company Thomas Cook acquired from Air Berlin at the start of January, subject to approval by the competition authorities. The new AOC will allow Condor to fly six additional aircraft from Germany.

Thomas Cook Airlines Balearics, its recently-formed Spanish airline, will operate five aircraft for use across Thomas Cook’s existing airlines according to demand. This will provide the Group with greater operational flexibility at a competitive cost, while allowing it to maintain closer control over the quality and customer experience than its current third-party lease arrangements. Thomas Cook Airlines UK will operate one additional aircraft for Summer 18, focusing its growth on short and medium haul destinations.

The additional capacity allows Thomas Cook Group Airlines to expand its route portfolio by over 70 new routes for Summer 18, including new destinations on the Adriatic coast of Croatia such as <link https: www.condor.com de fluege kroatien rijeka external-link-new-window external link in new>Rijeka and <link https: www.condor.com de fluege kroatien zadar external-link-new-window external link in new>Zadar from Germany, <link https: www.condor.com de fluege kroatien dubrovnik external-link-new-window external link in new>Dubrovnik from the UK and a further expansion of its USA programme, including Manchester to <link https: www.condor.com de fluege usa seattle external-link-new-window external link in new>Seattle, and Frankfurt to <link https: www.condor.com de fluege usa phoenix external-link-new-window external link in new>Phoenix. The growth in capacity will also create more than 500 new jobs across its flight operations in the UK, Germany and Palma.

Christoph Debus, Chief Airlines Office at Thomas Cook Group said: "This is an opportunity for Thomas Cook Group Airlines to take an important step forward in our growth plans and to secure our position as one of Europe's leading leisure airlines. These new operating platforms mean we are able to increase the choice for customers while improving our flexibility as one European airline."

About Thomas Cook Group Plc.

Thomas Cook Grou lc. is one of the world’s leading leisure travel grou s, with sales of £9 illion in the year ended 30 September 2017. It is supported by 22,000 employees and has 190 own-brand hotels. It operates from 17 source markets and serves over 20 million customers annually. Thomas Cook Grou lc’s shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange (TCG).

Contact Details:

Matthew Magee

Group head of corporate communications

Thomas Cook Group plc

Phone: +44 207 294 7059

E-mail: matthew.magee@thomascook.com