G-BXKC 1 A320-214 Ryan International Airlines (Apple Vacations) (jmc AIR) MAN 15DEC99
Replacing an earlier scanned photo with a better version 03-Oct-21 (DeNoise AI).
'jmc AIR' sometimes leased aircraft in the USA during the UK winter season. This was leased to Ryan International Airlines and operated for Apple Vacations. It's seen here about to depart Manchester for the USA.
Another long and complicated history... First flown with the Airbus test registration F-WWBQ, this aircraft was delivered to GECAS and leased to Airworld (UK) as G-BXKC in Dec-97.
It was wet-leased on delivery, to Ryan International Airlines (USA) and operated on behalf of US Tour Company 'Apple Vacations'. It returned to Airworld in Apr-98.
Airworld was merged into Flying Colours Airlines in Nov-98 and the aircraft was again wet-leased to Ryan International on behalf of Apple Vacations in Dec-98 and returned to Flying Colours in Apr-99.
This aircraft was repainted in 'jmc AIR' livery in Oct-99 and then wet-leased to Ryan International in Dec-99, again operating for Apple Vacations. At the end of Mar-00, Flying Colours was merged with Caledonian Airways (Mk:2) for form 'jmc AIR' (see below) and the aircraft was returned to 'jmc' in Apr-00.
The operation was repeated between Dec-00/May-01, Nov-01/Apr-02 and Dec-02/Apr-03. 'jmc AIR' was renamed Thomas Cook Airlines in Mar-03. For the next four European Winter seasons (Dec-03/Apr-04, Dec-04/Apr-05, Dec-05/Apr-06 and Nov-06/Apr-07), the aircraft was wet-leased to Bredan Airways (doing business as USA 3000 Airlines).
It was returned to GECAS in Jan-08 and leased to Vladivostok Avia as VP-BFX a few days later, It was returned to GECAS in early 2014 and stored at Shannon, Ireland. In Apr-14 the aircraft was leased to Hamburg Airways. Hamburg Airways ceased operations in mid Dec-14 and the aircraft was returned to GECAS at the end of the month when it was again stored at Shannon.
It was sold to Sunrise Asset Management Inc and leased to Allegiant Air as N229NV in Apr-15. Current, updated 15-Dec-22.
Note: The 'JMC' in 'jmc AIR' is the initials of Thomas Cook's son John Mason Cook! Who knew!! Well, no one really! The name and the livery were an advertising man's dream, but an airline man's nightmare. The general public (and half the travel trade) had no idea what it meant, what it stood for and what it's history was. It wasn't the greatest success and three years later 'jmc AIR' was renamed Thomas Cook Airlines.
G-BXKC 1 A320-214 Ryan International Airlines (Apple Vacations) (jmc AIR) MAN 15DEC99
Replacing an earlier scanned photo with a better version 03-Oct-21 (DeNoise AI).
'jmc AIR' sometimes leased aircraft in the USA during the UK winter season. This was leased to Ryan International Airlines and operated for Apple Vacations. It's seen here about to depart Manchester for the USA.
Another long and complicated history... First flown with the Airbus test registration F-WWBQ, this aircraft was delivered to GECAS and leased to Airworld (UK) as G-BXKC in Dec-97.
It was wet-leased on delivery, to Ryan International Airlines (USA) and operated on behalf of US Tour Company 'Apple Vacations'. It returned to Airworld in Apr-98.
Airworld was merged into Flying Colours Airlines in Nov-98 and the aircraft was again wet-leased to Ryan International on behalf of Apple Vacations in Dec-98 and returned to Flying Colours in Apr-99.
This aircraft was repainted in 'jmc AIR' livery in Oct-99 and then wet-leased to Ryan International in Dec-99, again operating for Apple Vacations. At the end of Mar-00, Flying Colours was merged with Caledonian Airways (Mk:2) for form 'jmc AIR' (see below) and the aircraft was returned to 'jmc' in Apr-00.
The operation was repeated between Dec-00/May-01, Nov-01/Apr-02 and Dec-02/Apr-03. 'jmc AIR' was renamed Thomas Cook Airlines in Mar-03. For the next four European Winter seasons (Dec-03/Apr-04, Dec-04/Apr-05, Dec-05/Apr-06 and Nov-06/Apr-07), the aircraft was wet-leased to Bredan Airways (doing business as USA 3000 Airlines).
It was returned to GECAS in Jan-08 and leased to Vladivostok Avia as VP-BFX a few days later, It was returned to GECAS in early 2014 and stored at Shannon, Ireland. In Apr-14 the aircraft was leased to Hamburg Airways. Hamburg Airways ceased operations in mid Dec-14 and the aircraft was returned to GECAS at the end of the month when it was again stored at Shannon.
It was sold to Sunrise Asset Management Inc and leased to Allegiant Air as N229NV in Apr-15. Current, updated 15-Dec-22.
Note: The 'JMC' in 'jmc AIR' is the initials of Thomas Cook's son John Mason Cook! Who knew!! Well, no one really! The name and the livery were an advertising man's dream, but an airline man's nightmare. The general public (and half the travel trade) had no idea what it meant, what it stood for and what it's history was. It wasn't the greatest success and three years later 'jmc AIR' was renamed Thomas Cook Airlines.