Sales are soaring for Tui but the cost of living crisis could soon bite
Hundreds of flights delayed or cancelled, an engine fire on a Tui plane at Manchester airport, and an abject apology from the managing director … it has not been an easy summer for the world’s biggest tour operator.
On Wednesday, a Tui report on bookings and revenues from April to June will shine a light on the whole holiday sector during its peak period.
A surge in demand for travel has caused chaos at airports in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, as they struggled to recruit baggage handlers and security staff after massive layoffs during the Covid pandemic.
Tui insists that it has cancelled fewer flights than some of its rivals, including easyJet and British Airways, which have scrapped thousands in recent months. But UK bossAndrew Flintham issued an apology to customers in June and promised to learn its lessons. In July and August (so far), it has flown all scheduled flights and claims it takes nine days, on average, to issue refunds.
After the May half-term cancellations, Tui said bookings had slowed across the industry – not surprising given the chaotic scenes at airports – but it still expects sales this summer to be close to pre-pandemic levels. Brits are particularly eager to travel: by mid-May more of us had bought Tui holidays than in the same period in 2019.
This summer, many families are taking their first trip abroad since the pandemic started. They are splashing out on longer trips, and upgrading to four- or five-star hotels and better rooms.
Spain, Greece, Turkey and Mexico are popular destinations, with an all-inclusive holiday in Mexico not costing much more than a break in Greece, Tui says.
Germans are also desperate to jet abroad, and summer travel bookings in Europe’s biggest economy are back at 2019 levels,
Read more on theguardian.com
