THE merging of charter fleets this year will reduce overcapacity in the seat-only market, claimed Avro managing director Roy Woodward.
He expects the merger of Thomas Cook and Carlson Worldchoice to lead to a streamlining of their respective aircraft fleets.
Whether Carlson-owned Caledonian Airways and Thomas Cook-owned Flying Colours will become one fleet or remain as separate brands has yet to be revealed, but Woodward predicted there would be some rationalisation.
“There was too much capacity in summer 1998 and there is still too much in 1999, especially if we are talking ourselves into a recession,” he said.
The rationalisation of charter carriers has already begun with the merger of Air 2000 and Leisure International Airways following First Choice’s takeover of Unijet.