Tui and easyJet holidays have 'no plans' to revise winter capacity

The bosses of Tui and easyJet holidays have revealed they are comfortable with the volume of winter holidays on sale but have admitted the market remains "incredibly competitive".

Speaking in response to Jet2’s decision to trim winter capacity because of a “difficult” market, Tui UK and Ireland managing director Neil Swanson and easyJet holidays chief executive Garry Wilson told Travel Weekly’s Future of Travel conference they had no plans to revise capacity levels.

“We are continuing where we are,” said Swanson, noting the tour operator was “just over 30%” sold for this winter which was “broadly the same” as how much the tour operator had sold at this time last year.  

Similarly, Wilson said: “We are not revising our capacity plans. We will sell as much as we can without comprising margins.

“Sales for winter are very strong, particularly for the Canaries and Egypt. I would expect our growth to continue. I don’t expect we will see that slowing down for next year.”

He admitted Jet2’s announcement to trim capacity from 5.8 million to 5.6 million for winter 2025-26, which still leaves it with 9% more capacity than last winter, was not necessarily “good for anybody” but made sense in the current market.

“If any of the big players put out a statement like that the whole industry feel the effects of it,” he said, but noted: “The capacity cuts are not huge by Jet2. I don’t think there is a problem, I think it’s just right-sizing for the demand that is there.

“It’s always wise to make sure you are managing your capacities well. If that’s the numbers they are seeing it makes sense.”