AIRTOURS is lining up a series of acquisitions following its failed bid for First Choice.
Greece specialist Kosmar, Swansea-based agency TravelCity and Global Travel Group are targets as the operator aims to renew its grip in the UK.
The deals are in addition to Airtours’ plans to buy German operator DER (Travel Weekly October 11).
Airtours had put all UK purchases on hold during its unsuccessful pursuit of First Choice. It felt any further acquisitions would have dented its case with the European Commission, which was already concerned at the consolidation in the market.
The EC ruling to block the bid has freed the operator to continue its expansion. Sources said Airtours has already approached Kosmar, the third largest operator to Greece behind Thomson and JMC. A deal would strengthen Airtours in the Greece market and fits in with plans to expand its specialist operations.
Kosmar managing director Abhi Dighe denied the company was up for sale. “You can’t discount approaches but we are happy as we are,” he said.
Telesales operator Travel City, which specialises in Florida and has call centres in Swansea, Glasgow, Blackpool, Sheffield and Gatwick, is also on the list.
Travel City chief executive Roy Boardman declined to comment.
Global Travel Group founder George Begg also declined to comment on a possible £55m takeover. However, Global, which has 450 members, has developed close links with the operator and negotiated top commission rates and marketing support.
Airtours is also believed to be poised to acquire a stake in Harry Goodman’s TVTravel Shop. Airtours group finance director Tim Byrne declined to comment but admitted growth in the UK had been put on hold during the EC investigation.
He added: “We are always looking at opportunities and at any one time have between 15 and 20 possibilities.”