Thomas Cook and TUI: Big Two tour operators evolve under pressure — March 2019

Thomas Cook and TUI — the last surviving AIT giants in Europe — both posted poor first quarter results for their latest financial years. On top of the relentless decline in the traditional all-inclusive tour market, they now face headwinds from Brexit uncertainty — and with both facing mounting debt piles, at least one of them is contemplating a virtual fire sale of its aviation assets.

Aviation Strategy has been tracking the AIT (Air Inclusive Tour) market out of the UK for many years, and the decline of the traditional package holiday market (the combination of holiday accommodation resort hotel and charter flight) that started in the early 2000s continues apace.