Cosmos set to merge two brands

ant Dreams brand after revealing plans to merge the operation with long-haul charter programme Tropical Paradise.

The two brands will be merged into a single long-haul brochure at the end of the year, featuring scheduled and charter flights.

Although no decision has been reached, it is likely to retain tropical paradise, which has more recognition and will carry 40,000 people this year.

Distant Dreams, which is based solely on scheduled flights, will carry 10,000.

Cosmos commercial director Stuart Jackson, who will take responsibility for the new programme, said the move follows the development of its COSNet reservations system.

“We launched Distant Dreams three years ago because our reservations system at the time couldn’t handle tailor-made itineraries which was a growing sector of the market,” he said. “However, the COSNet system can take complex multi-centre bookings as well as charter options. It makes commercial sense to bring the two brands together and is not a reflection on the performance of either programmes.”

Jackson stressed the merger will not lead to redundancies.