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{{Short description|Defunct charter airline of the United Kingdom (1999–2003)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline          = JMC Air
| logo             = JMC Air.png
| logo_size        = 120
| image            =
| IATA             = MT
| ICAO             = JMC
| callsign         = JMC
| fleet_size       = 49
| destinations     = 
| founded          = {{start date|1999|09||df=yes}}<br />{{small|(amalgamation)}}
| commenced        = {{start date|2000|03||df=yes}}
| ceased           = {{end date|2003|03|31|df=yes}}<br />{{small|(rebranded as [[Thomas Cook Airlines]])}}
| headquarters     = {{bulleted list|
  | Commonwealth House, [[Manchester Airport]]
  | Concorde House, [[Gatwick Airport]]}}
| bases            = {{ubl|class=nowrap
  | [[Birmingham Airport|Birmingham]]
  | [[Bristol Airport|Bristol]]
  | [[Gatwick Airport|London–Gatwick]]
  | [[Stansted Airport|London–Stansted]]
  | [[Manchester Airport|Manchester]]
  | [[Newcastle International Airport|Newcastle upon Tyne]]}}
| hubs             = 
| focus_cities     = 
| parent           = [[Thomas Cook AG]]
| key_people       = 
| aoc              = 
| frequent_flyer   = 
| lounge           = 
| revenue = £438.8million (2002)<ref name= "2002 accounts">{{Cite web |title=JMC Airlines Limited Annual Accounts 2002|url=https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/document-api-images-live.ch.gov.uk/docs/Pwxc8G1w5oEslwXIq6oMEa4L6sKxlLEjft1m0o356MI/application-pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAWRGBDBV3IODZVYL4%2F20240818%2Feu-west-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240818T210636Z&X-Amz-Expires=60&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjECsaCWV1LXdlc3QtMiJIMEYCIQCDYYyRXz%2FcIh3cJH02RYtXk%2F6BvypXRfq3QqjpQ%2BkE3QIhAOFovopc48GCkkuRUZKrqxSMCuk1jOd53NaCdzDOTx1BKrkFCDQQBRoMNDQ5MjI5MDMyODIyIgzLfPNR3CUQXKJsP0cqlgWDWoEFdeml7btB4yIOl%2BYrTEm7wCGSdIKolBQxoUVg1XLQZMCYxYrKZpY03VyiX7zvCDXvy%2BiGB2u8tp3b7ZxmkXlilNg3Ohpge%2BL75JWVurTLh9LmWRm3np9zRrYo0bRVX8XaOU1sqAYnwFNKqtfcyKIQ7wgvlQ976a8OR21voCK3GYFxW40txwOS2TC6h5v11D5HdAqQ99sy7YbLvuu8vfw%2FU0zz%2BZDf6zib1kuXyUAe0ISDsfM3wbQ4QG6O7LWlQt6CzHZZC8fyjoBbty%2Fha5z7coxVlHCmbFRsANV6RzGwzag8MVGtoECH7Aj3kA%2FO9iPV3CbESIAkrliXAxvlmotXoUKys%2FqjMBmM1JjvD6gNqHPeYm775clAAOoXuAnY7HqQedklG4sdI84sTkIvTw5ZocBnx72qRK0q9%2ByrmTQYif%2B%2Bb1BL2%2B0OSKwEzvq74KudxWmqv%2BfMoImRh1z0Mq0RbDhKCQQ0xajDojUAqcirSHihvhJj5FxGU4bT3w2U4bRTEmfea3cFvmFWJExSI%2Fru4vSY1N0TTEG%2FPiqIXg8F5TlmdyJFCjgBNCT0jLrYBwbqOtKmyQGGkjGuWG6cOROrUUQDJ5%2BPstJoyhXxot8UCjrnE6fkDBc5O%2BUwpUkldIvPqRGnr2UTtKTSDSNmsHzeukvA0MbvIQJ0SUzSrZhTsNMCOjh6pDECs4Nfqygz0rcP%2FBcCPq7%2BrPMzpDzobO0I7Ng5Dule5FjpthzeGoeDLYnxWnYXb9vz%2B72HsW4S7%2FqGl7%2F3Xlb664O0GNDqBMwlxmTF7%2BmpyA%2FsPmvIF8SOYG%2FLHwMH%2F%2BAjT%2FRzI%2FZ3I8GinBk1jmDsPvYV7Zu5g1SXtDa3hDcZTSes5b%2FzbUwHWK4UzjDT%2BYi2BjqwARC%2BbZXrDo9qoehOkEdNJ%2Bp3OrT5oNm17tykyWLdMe274eD2a2TefQeyckfuIyTANKfQSXXuHZL7aDv0WkaQVaeOBo4eEmmFai%2FrZlN%2Bd00vZHMFcdikGBi1BkVPsQb2Ii8NqDkUfVFKL05EZ1xikxOpF9WbYX27oLBhjR3h5rT8l8lWszG%2FimOw4oheFtga25BJGMHLCP4KzScUongFG4bSefWwRN3OQsHHQv1CgqRG&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&response-content-disposition=inline%3Bfilename%3D%22companies_house_document.pdf%22&X-Amz-Signature=543f0ff4dddfcd59222d8200a7ed1b9674af34e6ffe84a15f762f15884c1e335|website=gov.uk}}</ref>
| profit = £4.14million (2002)<ref name= "2002 accounts"/>
| num_employees    = 1,736 (2002)<ref name= "2002 accounts"/>
| website          = 
}}

'''JMC Airlines Limited''' (also known as '''JMC Air''', '''JMC Airlines''' or simply '''JMC''' and stylised as '''jmc''') was a [[charter airline]] in the [[United Kingdom]] formed by the merger of [[Caledonian Airways (1988)|Caledonian Airways]] and [[Flying Colours Airlines]], following the purchase of [[Thomas Cook & Son]] by the Carlson Leisure Group. JMC Air primarily served the Thomas Cook holidays brand and was rebranded in March 2003 to [[Thomas Cook Airlines|Thomas Cook Airlines UK]]. 

== History ==
JMC Air was initially announced in 1999, with a five year, £200m rebranding plan to join three of Thomas Cook's holiday brands Sunworld, Sunset, Inspirations and Flying Colours and Caledonian airlines. JMC Air was named after the initials of the son of [[Thomas Cook]], John Mason Cook.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Business: The Company FileThe return of the son of Thomas Cook|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/436231.stm|website=bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref name="ECC">{{cite web | url = http://www.worldlii.org/eu/cases/ECComm/1999/26.html | title = Westdeutsche Landesbank-Carlson-Thomas Cook (Merger) | publisher = Commission of the European Communities | date = 26 May 1999}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Burghouwt |first1=Guillaume |last2=Mendes De Leon |first2=Pablo|last3= De Wit|first3=Jaap |date=1 January 2015 |title=EU Air Transport Liberalisation Process, Impacts and Future Considerations |url=https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/transport/eu-air-transport-liberalisation-process-impacts-and-future-considerations_5jrw13t57flq-en |journal=International Transport Forum |volume=2015 |issue=4 |pages=32 |access-date=22 August 2024}}</ref> JMC Air's managing director was Terry Soult who had previously served the same role with Flying Colours.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Terry takes off with new airline|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/6201009.terry-takes-off-with-new-airline/|website=theboltonnews.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Airline plans £100m investment in new aircraft|url=https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/air/airline-plans-100m-investment-in-new-aircraft|website=travelweekly.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=UK charter airlines growing urge to merge|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/uk-charter-airlines-growing-urge-to-merge/28678.article|website=[[FlightGlobal]]}}</ref> It started operating under the JMC Air name from March 2000. The main operating bases were [[Gatwick Airport]] and [[Manchester Airport]]. Aircraft were also stationed at [[Stansted Airport]], [[Birmingham Airport]], [[Bristol Airport]], [[Glasgow Airport]], [[Cardiff Airport]] and [[Newcastle International Airport|Newcastle Airport]]. JMC Air also operated flights from [[Leeds Bradford Airport]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Phillips |first=Alan |date=15 August 2012 |title=Leeds - Bradford Airport Through Time |location=United Kingdom |publisher=[[Amberley Publishing]]|isbn=9781445623634}}</ref> At the start of operations the fleet consisted of [[Boeing 757]]-200, [[Airbus A320]], [[Airbus A330-200]] and [[McDonnell Douglas DC-10]] aircraft. 

In 2000, Thomas Cook was sold to C&N Touristic, a German based group backed by [[Lufthansa]] and rebranded as [[Thomas Cook AG]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thomas Cook sold to C&N for £550m|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/4474718/Thomas-Cook-sold-to-CandN-for-550m.html|website=telegraph.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1384497.stm|title=First Choice shakes off winter blues|publisher=BBC|date= 12 June 2001|access-date=21 September 2019}}</ref> JMC Air became closely linked to [[Condor (airline)|Condor]] as a result of the acquisition, and was estimated to control 16% of all European charter airline seats.<ref>{{Cite web |title=C&N's Thomas Cook deal links Condor and JMC|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/candns-thomas-cook-deal-links-condor-and-jmc-/35401.article|website=flightglobal.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Telfer |first=David J |date= 2002|title= Tourism and Development Concepts and Issues|location=UK |publisher=Channel View Publications Ltd |page=283 |isbn=9781873150344}}</ref> During the same year, JMC faced legal action from 20 tourists who fell ill on a package holiday in [[Majorca]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tour firm faces legal action after 20 Britons are taken ill in Majorca|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/aug/08/oliverburkeman1|website=theguardian.co.uk}}</ref> JMC Air were also part of an eight airline consortium that attempted to buy the British National Air Traffic Services.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Airlines bid to run UK traffic control|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/833408.stm|website=bbc.co.uk}}</ref> 

Prior to launch in 1999, JMC Air sought to acquire Boeing's latest [[757-300]] aircraft which led to them becoming the first UK operator of the -300 in 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |title=JMC eyes 757-300 deal for 2001|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/jmc-eyes-757-300-deal-for-2001/29504.article|website=flightglobal.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://boeing.mediaroom.com/2001-04-24-Boeing-757-300-Premieres-in-United-Kingdom-with-JMC-Airlines|title=News Releases/Statements|website=MediaRoom|access-date=2016-08-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=JMC takes first of two Boeing 757-300s in time for summer season|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/jmc-takes-first-of-two-boeing-757-300s-in-time-for-summer-season-/37080.article|website=flightglobal.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Birtles |first=Philip |date=2001 |title=Boeing 757 |url=https://archive.org/details/boeing7570000birt/|publisher=Zenith Press |page=64-65 |isbn=0760311234}}</ref> By late 2001, Thomas Cook made over 550 staff redundant of which 100 were with JMC Air.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jobs go at Thomas Cook|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/1567297.stm|website=bbc.co.uk}}</ref> JMC Air also closed three bases in the UK, as a result of lower passenger numbers in the wake of the September 11 attacks.<ref>{{cite book |last= Harvey|first=Geraint|date=30 October 2007 |title=Management in the Airline Industry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=asx8AgAAQBAJ |location=United Kingdom |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=9781134167333}}</ref>  In November of the same year, a JMC Air flight from Newcastle to [[Tenerife_South_Airport|Tenerife]] was diverted due to a drunk passenger incident, which led to the passenger being arrested and jailed for four months.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Air rage' woman jailed|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2071826.stm|website=bbc.co.uk}}</ref> In the same month, JMC Air took delivery of two leased [[Airbus A330-200]] aircraft via CIT Aerospace and Tyco Capital.  The aircraft were configured in a two class layout and powered by [[Rolls-Royce Trent]] engines. The aircraft were primarily used for long-haul operations to the Caribbean and United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CIT Aerospace to Lease Two Airbus A330-200sto the UK-Based JMC Airlines|url=https://www.defense-aerospace.com/jmc-airlines-leases-two-airbus-a330s-jan-16/|website=defense-aerospace.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=JMC Becomes New A330-200 Operator|url=https://www.defense-aerospace.com/jmc-receives-first-a330-200-nov-13/|website=defense-aerospace.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=JMC gets long-haul boost with first Airbus A330|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/jmc-gets-long-haul-boost-with-first-airbus-a330-/40438.article|website=flightglobal.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Hewson|first=Robert |date=2003 |title=Airbus A330 & A340 |url=https://archive.org/details/airbusa330a3400000hews/ |location=United Kingdom |publisher=Shrewsbury : Airlife |page=97 |isbn=1840373415}}</ref>

In early 2002, a JMC Air passenger successfully won damages for suspected [[deep vein thrombosis]] as a result of a long-haul flight from [[Calgary]] to [[Manchester]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tourist who feared DVT wins damages|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1779792.stm|website=bbc.co.uk}}</ref>  In May, it was announced JMC Air would be rebranded as Thomas Cook for summer 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thomas Cook name takes to the skies|url=https://www.travelmole.com/news/thomas-cook-name-takes-to-the-skies/|website=travelmole.com}}</ref> Around this time, JMC were considering a move to offer flight only bookings to compete with no-frills carriers such as [[Easyjet]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Now the charter airlines promise flexible flights|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/724213/Now-the-charter-airlines-promise-flexible-flights.html|website=telegraph.co.uk}}</ref>  The first Thomas Cook liveried aircraft took to the skies in late 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |title=JMC 757 demonstrates new Thomas Cook livery|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/jmc-757-demonstrates-new-thomas-cook-livery/46086.article|website=flightglobal.com}}</ref>

In 2003, JMC Air was noted as the best UK charter airline for shortest delays by Holiday Which, having taken an average 33 minute delay in 2001 down to an average of 13 minutes in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Passenger delays drop|url=https://cdnedge.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2794665.stm|website=bbc.co.uk}}</ref>  In the same year, Sufyan Sadiq, a 16 year old travelling with [[Stamford College, Lincolnshire|Stamford College]] was denied boarding of a JMC Air flight from [[Gatwick Airport]] after joking with staff that he had a gun in his luggage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Teenager barred from flight|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2849935.stm|website=bbc.co.uk}}</ref>  JMC Air concluded operations in March 2003, becoming [[Thomas Cook Airlines]] whilst JMC was retained as a family holiday brand under the Cook's package holiday umbrella.<ref>{{cite book |last=Holloway |first=J Christopher |date=2006 |title=The Business of Tourism |location= UK|publisher=Financial Times Prentice Hall |page=483 |isbn=9780273701613}}</ref>

==Fleet==
[[File:G-BVYA 2 A320-231 jmc AIR MAN 26DEC99 (5857470579).jpg|thumb|A JMC Air [[Airbus A320-200]] taxiing at [[Manchester Airport]] in 1999]]
[[File:McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30, JMC Air JP109397.jpg|thumb|right|A JMC Air DC-10 at [[Faro Airport]] in 2000]]
JMC Air's final and historical fleet prior to rebrand as [[Thomas Cook Airlines]] in March 2003.<ref>{{cite book |last=Womersley |first=Barry |date=2000 |title=UK Register |url=https://archive.org/details/ukregister0000barr_b3z8 |location=United Kingdom |publisher=Air Britain (Historians) Ltd |page=208,224,249,262,270 |isbn=9780851302942}}</ref>

===Final Fleet===
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|+ JMC Airlines fleet (at closure March 2003)
! Aircraft
!  Service
! Passengers
|-
|[[Airbus A320 family#A320|Airbus A320-200]]
|5
|180
|-
|[[Airbus A330-200]]
|1
|354
|-
|[[Boeing 757-200]]
|13
|235
|-
|[[Boeing 757-300]]
|2
|280
|-
|-
|'''Total'''
|21
|
|}

===Historical fleet===
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|+ JMC Airlines historical fleet
! style="background-color:#6CC417;" |<span style="color:white;"> Aircraft</span>
! style="background-color:#6CC417;" |<span style="color:white;">Total</span>
! style="background-color:#6CC417;" |<span style="color:white;"> Introduced</span>
! style="background-color:#6CC417;" |<span style="color:white;">Retired</span>
! style="background-color:#6CC417;" |<span style="color:white;"> Notes</span>
|-
|[[Airbus A320-200]]
|5
|2000
|2002
| G-BVYC, G-BVYA, G-BVYB re-registered to [[Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium]] <br> G-BXKC joined [[Ryan International Airlines]]
|-
|[[Airbus A330-200]]
|1
|2002
|2003
| G-OJMB joined [[Middle East Airlines]]
|-
|[[Boeing 757-200]]
|2
|2000
|2002
|C-FXOO returned from lease to [[Canada 3000 Airlines]] <br> G-JMCD joined [[Ryan International Airlines]]
|-
|[[McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30]]
|2
|2000
|2001
|G-GOKT re-registered N352WL to [[World Airways]] <br> G-LYON was returned to the [[Boeing Capital]]
|-
|}

==In popular culture==
In 2001, JMC engaged in an advertising campaign for better air health with popular television fitness expert [[Mr Motivator]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=campaigns-issues-management---jmc-pushes-health-issue-air-travel|url=https://www.prweek.com/article/114044/campaigns-issues-management---jmc-pushes-health-issue-air-travel|website=prweek.com}}</ref>  A JMC Air female cabin crew uniform from 2003 is part of a collection with the [[Science Museum, London|Science Museum]] in London.<ref>{{Cite web |title=JMC Airlines female cabin crew uniform|url=https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co8412818/jmc-airlines-female-cabin-crew-uniform-uniform-blouse-air-transport|website=sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk}}</ref> 

==See also==
* [[List of defunct airlines of the United Kingdom]]

==References==
{{commons category|JMC Air}}
{{reflist|2}}

{{Portal bar|United Kingdom|Companies|Aviation}}
{{Airlines of the United Kingdom}}

[[Category:Defunct airlines of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Airlines established in 2000]]
[[Category:Airlines disestablished in 2003]]