BA Holidays to merge with Thomas Cook Holidays

Report by John Lavabre

THOMAS Cook Holidays and British Airways Holidays are to merge their existing UK scheduled businesses.

The newly created venture company, which will be fully operational by next spring, will provide holidays to more than 400,000 customers a year.

The two operations will bring complimentary strengths to the venture as Thomas Cook’s long haul strengths are in Canada, USA and Egypt while British Airways is strong in the Caribbean, Florida and the Far East. Both companies have a major presence as city break operators.

All holiday products will be available through the Thomas Cook retail network and British Airways Travel Shops.

A single management team, headed by managing director of Thomas Cook Holidays Simon Laxton, will be responsible for merging the two operations and running the combined business.

Laxton remarked: “Thomas Cook Holidays and British Airways Holidays will be able to offer UK travellers an unrivalled range of choice. We aim to make excellent customer service our hallmark.”