n United Norwest co-op sees profits soar
Stoke-based UnitedNorwest Co-op has reported a 30% increased in profits beforedistributions (equivalent to pre-tax profits) to ú13m for the year ending January 23. Martin Beaumont, chief executive of the society which operates the54-branch Co-op Travel chain, reported a strong performance forhomeworking specialist Future Travel and Holiday Hypermarkets, itsout-of-town venture with First Choice and WestMidlands Co-op.
n Celtic airways set for september launch date
New carrier Celtic Airways is set to launch flights in September, as exclusively revealed in Travel Weekly on January 27. Services will start to Brussels from Teesside International and Sheffield City airports, and to Cork from Sheffield.
Celtic is also planning to launch flights from Newquay in summer 2000 to Sheffield and Cork.
The airline is taking delivery of two leased50-seat turboprops, a Dash-8 and a Fokker 50.
n princess cruises to expand alaska tours
Princess Cruises is to expand its Alaskaprogramme in summer 2000, after securing 20 extra permits to cruise in the waters of Glacier Bay. The company now has 52 permits for theMay-September 2000season. Princess marketing manager Gill Haynes said summer 2000 tours had not been finalised. A nine-nightSplendour of the Glaciers cruise this year starts from ú1,645 per person.