Where to Ski And Snowboard - Thomas Cook cancels Reno ski flights

Thomas Cook cancels Reno ski flights

7th May 2015, by Abi Butcher

The flights from London to Reno offered faster access to Tahoe ski resorts like Squaw

Thomas Cook has cancelled plans for the first ever non-stop flights between London and Reno due to inadequate staffing at the US airport closest to Lake Tahoe ski resorts.

The plans for the twice-weekly service between London and Reno, priced from £399 return, were announced last November and due to start on 19 December this year.

Some seats had already been sold, and Editor Watts described the move as a “real shame”.

“We were looking forward to the new flight which would have cut out the long drive from San Francisco and made resorts such as Heavenly and Squaw Valley much easier to reach from the UK,” he said.

Thomas Cook Airlines has said it is contacting customers who had already booked flights to offer a full refund and advice on alternative travel.

While Andy Wirth, president/CEO of Squaw Valley Holdings and Vice Chairman of the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority, claimed “factors beyond the control of the airport, the tourism partners supporting the flight and Thomas Cook Airlines” were responsible for the cancellation of the service, a spokesman for Thomas Cook has said its customers were due to face unacceptable delays at US Customs.

Thomas Cook’s Nick Sandham said: “Unfortunately, we can confirm that we have had to cancel our planned new route from London Gatwick to Reno/Lake Tahoe in the USA which was due to commence in December 2015.

“This is as a result of information we have received from the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that, despite their number of staff being increased at the airport, our customers are likely to still receive substantial delays of at least three hours to clear US Customs.

“Such inconvenience for our customers and the impact on our fleet and operation that would take place in Reno service should contact: accepting these delays, means that we are unable to operate the route at present.”