THOMSON is considering delaying the launch of summer 2000 brochures until at least June to allow agents to concentrate on selling the rest of this year’s holidays.
The move is set to have the backing of Airtours and First Choice, which have both said they would support a delayed launch.
It is also likely to be welcomed by agents, who frequently complain to Travel Weekly that summer programmes are launched too early and they are expected to sell several seasons at once.
All operators are ready to launch at any time and the trade had expected programmes to come out on April 29.
But there are plenty of holidays left for summer ’99 and the market leader feels it will be able to gain higher margins for the quiet months of May and June if agents are focussed on selling just one season.
Thomson itself is thought to have around 1m summer ’99 holidays left; Airtours and Thomas Cook around 800,000 each and First Choice arond 600,000.
A Thomson spokesman refused to comment on the specifics of a launch date but said the company would not allow itself to be disadvantaged if others launched in April.
Airtours deputy managing director Richard Carrick said:”We are relaxed about going back to mid-June. The message from retailers is that they don’t want an April launch.
“The whole industry has now become more realigned and there is nothing to be gained from an early launch.
“But we could go on sale today if we wanted to and we would if someone else launched.”
First Choice Holidays managing director Dermot Blastland added: “We would support a move to delay launches. I think everyone is mulling over the idea and talking to each other.
“It’s a good one and we wouldn’t break rank by being the first to launch.”
Thomas Cook earlier said it planned to launch its programmes on April 29. But industry observers believe the company would be prepared to fall in line with the rest of the industry.
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