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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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Business: The Company FileThe return of the son of Thomas Cook|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/436231.stm|website=bbc.co.uk}}</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.com}}</ref> It started operating under the JMC Air name from March 2000. The main operating bases were [[London Gatwick Airport]] and [[Manchester Airport]]. Aircraft were also stationed at [[London Stansted Airport]], [[Birmingham International Airport (United Kingdom)|Birmingham International Airport]], [[Bristol Airport]], [[Glasgow International 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 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/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.
Prior to launch in 1999, JMC 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>
In 2000, Thomas Cook was sold to C&N Touristic, a German based group backed by [[Lufthansa]].<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> JMC Air became closely linked to [[Condor (airline)|Condor]] as a result of the acquisition.<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> 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> 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=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1567297.stm|website=bbc.co.uk}}</ref> In November of the same year, a JMC 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=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2071826.stm|website=bbc.co.uk}}</ref> In the same month, JMC took delivery
In May 2002, 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>
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