COSMOS will expand its programme into the Middle East after the acquisition by parent company The Globus Group of Israel specialist Pullman Holidays.
The deal, believed to be worth around £2m-£3m, followed weeks of talks between Globus and Pullman owners Peltours which wanted to focus on scheduled operations.
Pullman managing director Simon Blutstein will remain along with all staff at its London offices. Monarch managing director Danny Bernstein and Cosmos commercial director Stuart Jackson will join the Pullman board.
Pullman has always had a close relationship with Globus-owned Monarch Airlines which caters for the bulk of the operator’s 70,000 capacity.
Cosmos managing director Nigel Wright said: “Cosmos and Pullman sell through different agents so there is unlikely to be any duplication.”
Cosmos is planning its first Eilat programme next year and will seek further additions.
Wright said Avro, part of the Globus Group, will also benefit by selling seat only to Israel.
“All being well, I can see Pullman expanding capacity to 100,000 within a couple of years,” added Wright.