Virgin Atlantic founder Sir Richard Branson tops the travel entrants in the 2011 Sunday Times Rich List, with increased wealth of 19% or £488 million in the past year.
He is ranked as Britain’s 19th richest person with a wealth of £3.085 billion, more than trumping Ryanair chief executive Micheal O’Leary, who is rated as Ireland’s 20th wealthy individual with £338 million, down by £38 million on 2010.
The Walker family, who have a £113.5 million stake in Flybe, are ranked as the 128th richest in Britain with £600 million. Travelex founder Lloyd Dorfman is ranked as the 134th wealthiest person in Britain with £570 million, up from £520 million.
Travel entrepreneur Kuljinder Bahia and his family, who are behind Southall Travel, have seen their wealth rise by £124 million in the past 12 months to £184 million. The business is estimated to be worth £164 million.
Simon Nixon, who has just announced the winding down of travel site Simonseeks.com, is ranked 194th with improved wealth of £68 million to £412 million.
The families of Peter Harris and John Cook, who are behind privately owned Butlins, Haven and Warner Leisure Hotels parent Bourne Leisure, are estimated to have £400 million and £330 million respectively.
The fortunes of Sir Rocco Forte and his sister Olga Polizzi are said to have slumped by £45 million to £240 million as their hotel group the Rocco Forte Collection is described as having had a difficult time in the recession.
Other travel industry names in the list include Abercrombie & Kent chairman Geoffrey Kent (£213 million), Lord Glendonbrook, the former Bmi chairman Sir Micheal Bishop (£200 million), former Airtours chief David Crossland (£160 million) and ex-Gold Medal Travel owner Ken Townsley (£118 million).