180 UK jobs go at Lastminute, Sabre and Travolocity
Sabre Holdings is axing 180 UK finance jobs in offices in Woking, Hounslow, Victoria and Stockport offices.
Jobs will go at Travelocity Europe, which includes Lastminute.com, plus Travelocity Business, Sabre Airline Solutions and Sabre Travel Network.
By 2009, this move would save the company $10 million annually, Sabre said in a statement.
“Within Europe we are operating within an increasingly competitive market place, which has seen other established major travel companies, including Thomas Cook, lower their cost bases through business process outsourcing to ensure future viability.
“To remain competitive in the market place and to continue to offer best prices to customers, we need to leverage a more efficient cost base.”
Sabre said although no other areas of the UK business would be affected, the job cuts could extend to Europe.
“As consultation in the UK gets underway issues may arise affecting other European countries, and scope and timelines will be determined. Should it become necessary, relevant consultation with impacted people and unions in each country will take place in accordance with statutory employment legisatlation in each location.”
A formal consultation process is now underway with impacted UK staff. The jobs in Hounslow will not go until at least July 1, and until July 31 in the other three locations.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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