Jazz & Thomas Cook = 6 757's

[Bajan Pilot]

I’m very pleased to share the very exciting news of our new partnership with Thomas Cook Canada Inc., subject to certain regulatory approvals. The initial plan is to fly no less than six B757-200’s from Canadian gateways to various sun destinations for the winter season (November through April) beginning this November.
If on or before May 30, 2010 Jazz and Thomas Cook are able to agree on pricing for the third, fourth and fifth winter seasons, then the agreement will be for a term ending April 30, 2015. Otherwise this agreement will have an initial term ending April 30, 2012.

This agreement is expected to generate approximately $100 million in additional annual revenues with conservative margins. The terms and conditions of the transaction are confidential.

This is a strong initiative that begins the diversification of Jazz Air LP beyond our current business in a meaningful way. Growth remains a major corporate objective; our agreement with Thomas Cook is a strong start that delivers value to all stakeholders. Together we’re bringing Jazz to new heights and entering the international market.

Our exceptional ability to operate safely, reliably with excellent customer service at competitive rates is the reason why Jazz Air LP is able to grow and diversify. It’s because of your ‘can do’ attitude and professionalism. We continue to deliver on our promises and will look further for value-driven opportunities.

The contract is subject to certain regulatory approvals, and we’re begun to work through a number of details. I know you have many questions; the Q&A below provides the answers that we have to this point – others will be provided as they are finalized. For now, I can tell you that the aircraft will be leased to us for each winter season by Thomas Cook Airlines Ltd. and will feature the Thomas Cook livery beginning in January 2011. The service will be completely branded ‘Thomas Cook’ and we’ll operate on their behalf utilizing the Jazz QK flight designator.

We’ll be hiring additional flight attendants (each aircraft requires 6 flight attendants), maintenance, SOCC, management and administrative personnel and likely pilots as the final schedule details become clear. The exact numbers and their breakdown will be determined in due course. This new contract is compatible with the provisions within our Capacity Purchase Agreement with Air Canada, and we’ll continue to provide our valued customer with industry-leading operational performance. This new partnership is consistent with our current business model as we’re operating on behalf of one of the world’s largest leisure travel groups.

Every employee has played a role in bringing us to this exciting stage, but the outstanding efforts of Scott Tapson, Vice President of Business Development, must be commended. I sincerely thank Scott and his team for delivering this great opportunity to us.

Now is our time to shine in new markets. Your efforts have brought us here, and I know they will help us to exceed the expectations of our new customer as we build this wonderful and new partnership.



Sincerely,



Joe Randell

President and Chief Executive Officer

Jazz Air LP

[Inverted2]

Hopefully they won't crew them like Canjet did!

[mbav8r]

Wow, guess things are going to get interesting. I guess whoever bids to fly it, will be expected to fly a half a year on a 757, then half on an RJ. Unless they do some kind of agreement with the pilot group, like during our summer the pilots who choose to fly it will go somewhere else to fly for Thomas Cook. Oh, who the heck knows, like I said, things are going to get interesting.
I guess after the agreement is signed(not a done deal yet)I'll have to eat some crow. I made a comment awhile back about Jazz managers not being able to grow their dicks with a little blue pill. Maybe I was wrong, time will tell.
Will also need a much bigger raise now, we can't be the lowest paid 57 pilots out there.

[mbav8r]

Inverted2 wrote:
Hopefully they won't crew them like Canjet did!

Doesn't sound like it. In the Q&A section they mention that the Pilot hiring requirment will be determined
once we have the scheduel. They say we will have a surplus with the reduction of our covered(CPA) aircraft.
So this will offset the surplus with a possibility of needing more pilots.

[El Comat]

With two new types coming online in the next 12 months, I'd imagine there will be hiring. They'll need reserve coverage and and a training department for both the Q400 and 757. But who knows....I've been stuck at the bottom for two years so I'd like to believe that I may finally gain a few numbers!!

EC

[Pourdu_fun]

Finally, Great job by our management and our MEC.

Pourdu

[Localizer]

Speechless ...

[jetsetfly]

Wonder when they will start hiring for Maintenance probably be looking for 757 endorsed guys and also the new agreement is it like for every city in canada where Jazz flies where they will fly the 757 out of?

[airmech07]

Wonder when they will start hiring for Maintenance probably be looking for 757 endorsed guys

I am pretty sure the CAW would have something to say about that. Hiring outside before inside. We will see what unfolds but I would be pretty sure they would send some guys on course.
Jazz will be doing the line maintenance and Thomas cook is doing the heavy maintenance

[BLZD1]

From the pilot side they will probaby use AC's 767 sims and AC's contract trainers for flight training!

Only guessing!!

[teacher]

............and ACGHS among other things, don't worry, AC will get it's cut.............

[teacher]

It always does. Hence always call STOC when you're waiting or send an ACARS

[countryhick]

............and ACGHS among other things, don't worry, AC will get it's cut.............

No AC code = no requirement for ACGHS, maybe we will be on time

Jokes aside, I can't remember when I have waited more than a minute or 2 for the ramp!!

[teacher]

I will also admit it has improved dramatically.

As for using AC services I'm just thinking it would be a way to appease AC if they were having issues with the charter flying.

[Pratt]

I imagine you saw that SSV flights have always departed out of T3 doing the work that we will be taking over. My guess is that will continue and not using AC ground crews, I doubt we have any contractual obligation to use them when operating outside of the CPA.

[FlyingHi]

Talking with an European friend, Thomas Cook requires 1000hrs PIC on type for their contracts. If current Jazz pilots don't meet that requirement, what are the possibilities that they would have to hire Canadians WITH a current 757 rating. Hmmm, where would you find a bunch of qualified, current on type, senior 757 captains? Skyservice?

[dream_big]

Talking with an European friend, Thomas Cook requires 1000hrs PIC on type for their contracts. If current Jazz pilots don't meet that requirement, what are the possibilities that they would have to hire Canadians WITH a current 757 rating. Hmmm, where would you find a bunch of qualified, current on type, senior 757 captains? Skyservice?

What are you talking about? The people who will be awarded this plane are going to be THE most senior people at our company. People who probably have over 15,000 hours of PIC time. So really, REALLY REALLY don't have to worry about the pilots not having the PIC requirement.

Not to mention these are merely thomas cook planes leased to us. JAZZ will be operating them on their behalf and therefore Thomas Cook's flying requirements means absolutely nothing to jazz pilots flying them. It would be the same if our pilots here at jazz had to have the AC requirements in order to fly a dash. not so much

[ziggy]

Ummmmm. How many Jazz guys have 1000 pic on the 757??

[rudder]

Talking with an European friend, Thomas Cook requires 1000hrs PIC on type for their contracts.

Nope.

[flyinhigh]

Talking with an European friend, Thomas Cook requires 1000hrs PIC on type for their contracts.

Hi, Welcome to Canada.

[Localizer]

Talking with an European friend, Thomas Cook requires 1000hrs PIC on type for their contracts. If current Jazz pilots don't meet that requirement, what are the possibilities that they would have to hire Canadians WITH a current 757 rating. Hmmm, where would you find a bunch of qualified, current on type, senior 757 captains? Skyservice?

Super for Thomas Cook .. but like a couple people have said, these are Jazz leased aircraft and we work for Jazz not Thomas Cook. Besides if you think our union is going to allow contract pilots for the long-term or hire guys to jump ahead of established Jazz pilots, you're crazy.

But as for 757 typed pilots at Jazz .. I do know some that took leaves and went to Harmony for a couple years .. I hope that helps ease your mind.

[Stinky]

I wonder if some of the appeal of using Jazz is that we're already established as a feeder. We could use surplus Dash 8's and RJ's to feed the 757's.

[ram]

I don't think Jazz will be using Air Canada owned RJ's to feed a Thomas Cook operation.
I'm happy for Jazz and I think it's a great thing as long as it remains SEPERATE from the Air Canada operation!

[Brick Head]

Ram,

I'll second that. congratulations guys.

I get a bit of a chuckle out of this thread though. I can't image AC providing anything that will help TC compete with AC vacations.

But as you point out that isn't necessarily a loss.

If this ends up as a hornets nest between our corporations? How about we leave them to deal with it and not make this a pilot pilot thing.

cograts again.

[twinpratts]

Congrats for the Jazz guys, it's great that there's some good fortune coming your way!