JMC prepares for summer delays

Aircraft cutbacks

JMC prepares for summer delays

JMC Airlines is to cut its number of flying hours and place one aircraft on standby in preparation for a summer of delays at Gatwick.

The charter carrier lagged behind rivals in on-time performance last year, blaming poor weather, baggage handlers’ strikes in Tenerife and the failure of Air Traffic Control computers at Gatwick.

This summer it will cut back on aircraft use by one hour during the shoulder periods, from 14 to 13 hours per day. It will also put a 356-seat DC10 aircraft on standby at Gatwick to handle delays.

JMC Airlines managing director Terry Soult said it was a costly exercise. “We have to look at the overall profits of the group. The decrease in profitability at JMC Airlines will be counterbalanced by the reduction in loss-making flights for Thomas Cook,” he said.

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