Established in 1841, Thomas Cook grew to became one of the largest and most popular tour operators in the UK. The company founded its own airline in 1996, following its acquisition of the Airworld Aviation airline and its parent tour company, Sunworld. JMC Airlines was formed in November 1999 and was renamed Thomas Cook Airlines in 2003 as part of the company's rebranding strategy. Thomas Cook AG and the MyTravel Group merged to become Thomas Cook Airlines in 2007. The Group's four regional carriers then merged in 2013 to form an airline holding company, Thomas Cook Group Airlines Ltd. This was a single operating unit that enabled the flexible interchange of aircraft and crew, generating new efficiencies and operational savings. However, a series of financial challenges, substantial losses and insurmountable debts led to the Thomas Cook Group filing for compulsory liquidation on 23 September 2019. With more than 140 colour images, this book charts the history of Thomas Cook Airlines, its aircraft and operations, from 1996 through to its demise in 2019. It describes how other UK charter airlines eventually became part of Thomas Cook Airlines (UK) via take-overs or mergers and provides details of the partner airlines that became members of Thomas Cook Group Airlines Ltd.
