Report by
John Lavabre
THOMAS
Cook Holidays and British Airways Holidays are to merge their existing UK
scheduled businesses.
The newly
created venture company, which will be fully operational by next spring, will
provide holidays to more than 400,000 customers a year.
The two
operations will bring complimentary strengths to the venture as Thomas Cook’s
long haul strengths are in Canada, USA and Egypt while British Airways is
strong in the Caribbean, Florida and the Far East. Both companies have a major
presence as city break operators.
All
holiday products will be available through the Thomas Cook retail network and
British Airways Travel Shops.
A single
management team, headed by managing director of Thomas Cook Holidays Simon
Laxton, will be responsible for merging the two operations and running the
combined business.
Laxton
remarked: “Thomas Cook Holidays and British Airways Holidays will be able to
offer UK travellers an unrivalled range of choice. We aim to make excellent
customer service our hallmark.”