Flying Colours Airlines

The airline was established in autumn 1996 and began unscheduled operations in March 1997 with a fleet of six Airbus A320, two Airbus A321 and eleven Boeing 757-200 aircraft. Flying Colours had several operational bases outside of its Manchester Airport headquarters, including London Gatwick Airport and Glasgow International Airport. The airline quickly established a positive reputation in the charter industry, with a fleet of newly built aircraft and new features; Flying Colours were the first airline in the UK to have LCD TV screens in the cabins of their 757s, these would fold down from the interior ceiling of the aircraft.

In 1998, Sunworld, a Thomas Cook & Son subsidiary, acquired Flying Colours Leisure Group. Subsequently, the in-house charter airline of Thomas Cook, Airworld, was integrated into Flying Colours. Shortly after the takeover two ex-Airworld Airbus A321s were returned to their lessor. The merged airline also maintained the Airworld operating base at Bristol.

In 1999 Thomas Cook completed the acquisition of Carlson Leisure Group, who operated the charter carriers Caledonian Airways and Peach Air. This led to a complete rebrand by Thomas Cook of its growing tour operation. In September 1999, Thomas Cook established it own charter airline, JMC Air, which became operational in the following month of March. Flying Colours had ordered two Airbus A330-200 aircraft to begin longhaul operations, these aircraft arrived after the JMC merger.