First Choice Airways was a British charter airline of European tour operator TUI Travel. It flew to more than 60 destinations worldwide from 14 UK and Irish airports. It also operated scheduled year-round leisure routes to Cyprus and the resorts of Spain and Portugal.
The airline started operations in 1987, under the name Air 2000. In 1988, the airline set up a subsidiary in Canada. This subsidiary lasted only a few days before the Canadian government suspended its licence. The second attempt was more successful and became Canada 3000. Long haul services were introduced during the 1988/89 season. Leisure International Airways was fully integrated after the acquisition by First Choice in 1998. In 2004 the Air 2000 branding was removed and First Choice Airways branding added. In March 2008, the tourism division of the airline’s parent group TUI AG, merged with First Choice Holidays, forming the new company TUI Travel. In November 2008, Thomsonfly and First Choice Airways both rebranded their operations to Thomson Airways.
Source: Wikipedia
