THOMSON has tapped into the growing charter flight-only market with the purchase of Manchester Flights for an undisclosed sum.
The telesales and Teletext agency, which trades under the brands Skydeals, Freefone Flights and 0800 Flights, is the UK’s largest independent flight-only company and is this year expected to sell more than 220,000 seats.
It employs 135 people at its Manchester base and is believed to have made profits last year of £1m. Manchester Flights owner Mark Zapolski is staying at the company.
The acquisition will give Thomson its first serious flight-only venture as well as strengthening its presence in the lates market.
Sources said the market leader has previously regarded flight-only as a method of improving load factors.