320 jobs to go in latest Thomas Cook cull
More than 300 jobs will go at Thomas Cook as it plans to close another 21 stores.
Thomas Cook is expecting to make 218 shop staff redundant and lay off another 102 other customer-facing staff.
The affected employees were told yesterday and consultation has begun with staff and unions.
Thomas Cook said the decision was part of an ‘ongoing pogramme to drive greater efficiencies across the business’ and as a result of a shift to online bookings.
It said online bookings accounted for 64% of all UK sales last year, a jump of 30% and with ‘continued strong momentum’.
New chief of tour operating Will Waggott said: "Today’s announcement reflects the wider challenges seen on the high street, with more and more customers choosing to book online. These measures will help us to drive greater efficiencies across Thomas Cook so that we relentlessly focus our resources in those areas that give us the greatest opportunity to make a difference to customers in our core holiday offering.
"Looking ahead, we will be working to ensure that Thomas Cook is fit for the future, putting a rigorous focus on costs in a competitive environment while giving customers more reasons to holiday with the strongest brand in travel."
Thomas Cook has also put its airline business up for sale in a bid to raise funds following profit warnings.
The shops set to close are:
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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