Thomas Cook is making 81 staff redundant at Caledonian Airways as part of a further integration of its two airline fleets.
The Gatwick-based staff in operations and engineering have been offered relocation to the combined fleet’s future headquarters in Manchester but few are expected to take up the offer. An office will be kept at Gatwick’s Caledonian House.
The job losses follow the decommissioning of four of Caledonian’s ageing TriStars. The summer-only lease of a further four Tristars from Air Atlanta will also be discontinued after this season.
Terry Soult, managing director of Thomas Cook UK Airline Operations, which incorporates Caledonian and Flying Colours Airlines, said he was in final negotiations to lease a further three Boeing 757 aircraft which would give the combined fleet a total of 28 aircraft.
A decision on branding of the combined fleet is expected in September.