Costa Rica Comes to Life as Passangers Get Announcement on Board UK’S First Flight

• Thomson Airways, the UK’s first airline to offer direct flights to Costa Rica, makes inaugural trip to the Central American hotspot
• Special guest, actor and impressionist Terry Mynott surprises and delights passengers

3rd November 2015 – Actor and TV impressionist, Terry Mynott, was on hand Monday (2 November) to ensure Thomson Airways’ Costa Rica programme got off to a flying start. At 09:15 passengers departed London Gatwick on the UK’s first direct, non-stop flight to Liberia Airport, Costa Rica, but not before their destination was brought to life by the very special guest.

Customers boarded the inaugural flight to the sights and sounds of the rainforest, showcased using the 787 Dreamliner’s distinctive lighting system, before being welcomed on board by Captain Stuart Gruber, Director of Flight Operations of Thomson Airways. The surprises continued once passengers were seated when a seemingly familiar voice sounded out over the cabin crew PA system. What appeared to be an insight into Costa Rica from nature and wildlife expert Sir David Attenborough was gradually revealed as a one-off performance playing homage to the naturalist from actor and TV impressionist Terry Mynott.

Stuart Gruber, Director of Flight Operations of Thomson Airways said: “The arrival of the 787 Dreamliner in 2013, together with the increasing demand for long haul breaks, has meant that we’ve been able to put a real focus on extending our portfolio, offering a much more diverse range of destinations. Costa Rica is just one of the exciting, exotic countries we can now make more accessible to customers. Being able to pilot the UK’s first direct non-stop flight and be part of Terry’s fantastic performance on board makes the whole occasion even more memorable.”

Terry Mynott, actor and impressionist commented: “I was thrilled when Thomson asked me to work with them to celebrate their inaugural flight to Costa Rica. I always love doing a Sir David Attenborough impersonation, his voice is instantly recognisable. It was a clever idea with Attenborough being synonymous with wildlife and nature, and to have some fun with the script and bring Costa Rica to life for the passengers on board. Performing live on the 787 Dreamliner was an experience I couldn’t turn down”

The five-minute comedic routine which delighted passengers on their early morning flight celebrated the first direct journey to Costa Rica from the UK and included an insight into the culture of the country, with references to the food, people and wildlife. Starting off in the typical documentary-style, commentary that Sir David Attenborough is known and loved for, Terry gradually introduced a couple of recently popular turns of phrase such as ‘YOLO’, and even encouraged passenger participation.

The weekly Dreamliner flight from Gatwick throughout the winter allows customers to explore the diverse mixture of wildlife and landscapes that make up Costa Rica during the country’s most tropical season. Soft, sandy beaches sit alongside dense rainforests and are home to some of the most impressive wildlife in world, resulting in nature reserves and national parks aplenty.

A fantastic range of hotels are available with Thomson and First Choice, and an exciting tour and stay programme gives customers the chance to team a relaxing beach resort stay with four or seven nights of adventure, with stops at Arenal and Monteverde taking in the cloudforests, zip lining through the jungle canopy, navigating through the treetop hanging bridges and drifting down the Costa Rican white water rapids.

Thomson Airways

Thomson Airways, the airline for Thomson and First Choice, is the UK’s third largest airline and is a member TUI Group.

With a fleet of 62 aircraft consisting of Boeing 737, 757, 767 and 787, Thomson Airways serves 20 UK airports taking over five million customers away each year and operates to over 88 destinations in 30 countries.

The airline was the first UK operator of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Source: Thomson Airways