Thomas Cook and Tui Travel have cancelled some of its flying programme to Tunisia for this summer following a drop off in demand for the destination.
Cook’s summer flight programmes out of Belfast, Norwich and Leeds to Enfidha in Tunisia have been dropped, with capacity switched instead to Spanish destinations.
Out of Belfast more seats are being offered on existing flights to Spain. Flights out of Belfast to Palma operate on a Tuesday and Saturday, and to Reus on a Tuesday and Sunday. Tunisia flights to Leeds have been replaced by extra seats on Palma routes for this summer.
Thomas Cook has also dropped one of its two summer routes to Tunisia out of Glasgow. The Sunday flight will continue to operate for summer 2011 but the planned Wednesday flight will now operate to Ibiza instead.
A spokeswoman said: “We continually review our holiday programmes based around the natural demand for package holidays and flights, and we adjust our flying programmes according to this.”
Although it did not reveal details, rival big two operator Tui Travel said it also had decreased capacity to Tunisia. A sopkesman said: “Thomson Airways constantly reviews its capacity and routes on an ongoing basis to ensure that it is in line with customer demand.
“Following the political unrest earlier this year, the airline has taken the decision to temporarily reduce capacity to Tunisia. Tunisia remains a popular destination for our customers and we will continue to monitor demand and adapt the programme accordingly.”
Last week the first Thomas Cook flights returned to Tunisia since the popular revolution in the north African country. The company was the first operator to resume flights to Tunisia after it evacuated all of its 1,8000 passengers from the destination in January.
Passengers were due to return on Wednesday on flights from Monastir to Gatwick, Manchester, Newcastle and Belfast. Thomas Cook is offering 16 flights a week from 10 departure airports to Tunisia this winter.