Thomas Cook launches 'Silver Brakes' for elderly travellers

With the elderly population in the country seeing a steady rise, travel company Thomas Cook has launched packaged tours for the affluent senior citizens, eyeing the huge potential in this sector. 

The current population of the affluent elderly in the country was approximately 23 million, expected to touch 50 million by 2020. 

Thomas Cook (India) last month launched 'Silver Brakes' for those over 60 years of age and the response had been "very good", according to its Managing Director Madhavan Menon. 

"There will be provisions for easy access transportation, easy entry and exits, buses with low steps, relaxed itineraries, special diets, porters to carry heavy bags, have been launched," he told PTI here. Abraham Alapatt, Chief Innovation Officer and Head Marketing and Service Quality, said effort had also been made to ensure there was minimal travel times between cities and late starts in the mornings. 

Special dietary requirements would also be taken care of and medical assistance provided on need. The company has so far done 150 odd packages and this year expected to fill up 10-20 groups with 40 persons in each group, he added. The tour is being organised in group and individual basis. The favourite destinations are Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore and Europe. 

There are also lots of women wanting to travel alone and in women's groups. "We have launched a line of products specifically targetting women out bound and in bound," Madhavan said. 

Both the packages launched a month ago have had good responses, he said, adding, they had already organised at least four 'women's only' trips so far with the fairer sex in the 25-45 age group.

Read More

Thomas Cook announces Manchester-US routes

Thomas Cook Airlines has announced new flights from Manchester to New York and Miami for the summer next year.

The airline will offer three flights a week from Manchester to New York JFK from May 2015, while the Miami service will run twice a week. Both routes will be used to promote city breaks, fly/cruises to the Caribbean as well as further connections into the USA. Holidays are included in the company’s new brochure, which also outlines its new premium service and an upgraded economy class on its aircraft.

The premium service allows the company’s long-haul passengers to reserve seats in advance; have priority check-in; wider seats with a 35-inch pitch and 19.7-inch width and allows bags up to 32kg. The new economy cabin has new wider seats; an improved touch-screen in-flight entertainment system; 23kg of luggage, meals and drinks.

“As well as bringing a new and alternative approach to travelling to New York – catering for both business and leisure travellers – our new cabin interiors, premium service and upgraded economy will change the way customers view Thomas Cook Airlines, as we look to provide a great quality product at a great price,” said Christoph Debus, CEO of Thomas Cook Airlines.

“More than a million people travel from the UK to Miami each year, currently served only by London airports.  With the launch of this exclusive route from Manchester, holidaymakers and cruise passengers looking for flights from the north of the UK will now have more options for travel.  Both routes will also allow significant onward travel across the USA – we’re bringing travel to the states closer to the rest of Britain,” he added.

Tickets for the new flights go on sale 7 May.

Read More

Thomas Cook flight chaos fear for summer holidays as staff consider strike action over job losses

Thomas Cook holiday flights could be hit by industrial action this summer in a mounting row with cabin crew.

The travel giant is proposing to reduce the number of stewards and stewardesses on its planes to the bare minimum allowed under EU rules.

Crew are furious, claiming the change will push already stressed out staff “past breaking point”.

Read More