Thomas Cook Group has ordered 12 Airbus A321-200s as part of its fleet harmonisation and renewal plan. The aircraft will be fitted with Airbus Sharklet wing-tips.
The airline is also planning to lease more A320-family aircraft from operating lessors to add to its current fleet of 10 A320s and four A321-200s. The new A321 order will likely replace the nine Boeing 757-200s and two Boeing 757-300s Thomas Cook has been flying.
The new Sharklets, say Airbus, enhance the eco-efficiency and payload-range performance of the A320 family and are expected to result in at least 3.5% reduced fuel burn over longer sectors.
At the same time Thomas Cook Selected CFM56-5B engines to power its new A321s in an order worth over $200 million at list prices.
Delivery is scheduled for 2014. In addition to the firm aircraft order, Thomas Cook Group also plans to lease CFM56-5B-powered A320s keeping the fleet an all CFM one.
Thomas Cook Group plc is one of the worlds leading leisure travel groups and operates a total fleet of more than 90 aircraft and carries 17 million passengers each year. The fleet is split into four airlines: the UK airline, the German airline flying under the Condor brand, the Scandinavian and Belgian airlines.
All of Thomas Cook’s new CFM56-5B engines will incorporate an engine performance improvement package. The modifications will reduce engine fuel consumption by 0.5% and lower maintenance costs by 1%.
The CFM56-5B PIP is currently undergoing flight tests at Airbus and is schedule for certification in the second quarter 2011. Airline entry into service is planned for the third quarter 2011. The engine will maintain the same noise signature as the current production engine. These engines also meet current International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Committee of Aviation Environmental Protection standards (CAEP /6) requirements.