First Choice is due to report a “bounce back” in ski package sales at its full-year financial results announcement later this year, according to mainstream holidays managing director Dermot Blastland.
Blastland revealed the company would be reporting better ski holiday sales and blamed the the improving picture for the mainstream operator on problems holidaymakers have in dynamically packaging their own ski breaks.
“We think there is a bounce back. People are saying it’s not worth the hassle. It sounds trendy [to dynamically package] but it’s gone pear-shaped for so many people.”
Meanwhile, First Choice is selling more flight-only product, but only on a tactical basis.
The company has deliberately moved its business away from flight-only sales in recent years.
But First Choice mainstream holidays managing director Dermot Blastland admitted: “We have gone back a bit into the flight-only market because we find it can suit us. We will use it tactically but not so that it’s too big a chunk of our business.”
Flight-only sales will never reach previous levels of 250,000 passengers, however, because it’s just a commodity”, he added. “Where are you adding value?” he said.