DIRECT MERGER
Direct booking specialists Team Travel and Lincoln Travel have announced a 50-50 merger in which the two businesses will operate as separate subsidiaries of holding company TeamLincoln. The new company plans to retain its270-strong workforce and take on an extra 100 staff. The deal follows the recent resignation of Lincoln managing director Bryn Jones (Travel WeeklyJ anuary 13).
EASYJET FLOTATION
Easyjet chairman Stelios Haji-Ioannou is planning a millennium London Stock Market flotation where the Haji-Ioannou family will retain control of the low-cost airline. The decision was taken after EasyJet reported its first ever full year profit – ú2.3m to September 30.
AIRTOURS SEEKS ADVICE
Airtours is taking legal advice over why US police failed to prosecute 12 people who caused one of its jets to make an emergency landing on Sunday. The troublemakers started fighting on the Gatwick-Montego Bay flight causing the pilot to land in Virginia at a cost of £20,000 to Airtours.
CAA REVOKES ATOL
The Civil Aviation Authority has revoked the Air Travel Organiser’s Licence held by Orchid Tours in Wembley. The firm, formerly of Liverpool Road, Luton, had its ABTA membership cancelled last month (Travel Weekly January 27).
FLYING COLOURS MOVE
FlyingColours will base a Boeing 757 at Birmingham International Airport for the first time this summer.
The majority of the 235-seater’s capacity will be taken by in-house operators.