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A vastly expanded long-haul programme is being considered by Tui UK & Ireland as the operator confirmed the introduction of Sri Lanka for winter 2016.
Managing director Nick Longman, speaking at the Abta Travel Convention in Greece, revealed that a range of destinations in Asia and the Caribbean were on the company’s radar.
These include Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia in the Far East together with the Caribbean islands of Antigua, Barbados and St Lucia.
Price for Sri Lanka packages based on 11 and a half hour Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights from Gatwick are due to be revealed when the programme goes on sale early next month.
Sir Lanka will initially run winter-only but Longman suggested there could be opportunities to operate flights year round.
The planned expansion came as the UK’s largest travel group revealed results of new research among more than 2,000 adults which showed that more than three quarters (77 per cent) are prepared to fly for nine hours or more to reach their holiday destination.
The study also found that more families are prepared to travel further with an 800 per cent rise in long haul family bookings over the past decade.
The Thomson and First Choice parent company also revealed that 89 per cent of those polled travel long haul at least once every five years and a further 21 per cent opt for further away destinations every year.
More are also travelling for just 10 or 11 nights rather than the traditional fortnight with a third saying the introduction of the Dreamliner has inspired them to fly further afield on holiday.
The company currently has nine of the new generation aircraft in operation out of an order of 14 including larger 787-9s from summer 2016.
Tui starts flying to Costa Rica in November using what Longman described as a “game changing” aircraft in addition to other new destinations such as Mauritius, the Pacific coast of Mexico and Cuba plus Dubai to serve Thomson cruises from the emirate in winter 2016.
Longman, who revealed that the Tui master branding should be introduced in the UK by 2017, said: “With more and more people holidaying more than once a year, a long haul adventure combined with a relaxing short haul break is proving, for many, the ideal combination.
“We continue to focus on growing our long haul portfolio and are pleased to introduce Sri Lanka for winter 2016.
“With more exciting long haul destinations in the pipeline we expect to see the trend continue as British holidaymakers look to visit new places they may member have been to before.”