Courtney Air Savers opens new branch

Edinburgh

Courtney Air Savers opens new branch

FLIGHT consolidator Courtney Air Savers is to open its third high-street branch since it was sold by Thomson Travel Group in the summer.

It has acquired a branch of Thomson-owned Sibbald Travel in Edinburgh which will be rebranded and open for trading by the end of the month.

Managing director David Ellis, who led a management buyout of the company in June, has already bought and reopened branches of Callers Pegasus in Sunderland and Travel House in Gisborough, Cleveland. Both Callers and Travel House are also owned by Thomson.

“We bought shops in towns where Thomson was saturated with in-house agents,” he said.

Ellis added further expansion was planned through on-going talks with Travel House managing director Martin Morgan.

“The multiples have indicated they will offload shops. If and when they do, we will be interested,” said Ellis.

The high-street agencies will sell a limited amount of package holidays, which under an agreement with Thomson, will make up 10% of its business.

Courtney has also opened a call centre in Newcastle and launched a Web site at www.air-savers.com.