TUI buys back Swiss arm
TUI AG, has bought back from Kuoni Reisen Holding AG the shares it held in the company’s Swiss operations. Kuoni has held the 49% share in TUI Suisse since October 1999, but the recent deal means TUI AG resumes 100% ownership. The purchase price has been kept confidential. TUI Suisse has a distribution network comprising 70 of its own travel agencies and around 1,000 distribution partners in the French and German speaking parts of Switzerland. The two companies will continue to cooperate over TUI Hotels, distribution in the Swiss market, and Kuoni’s carrier Edelweiss Air, despite the demerger. TUI AG executive board chairman Dr. Michael Frenzel, said: “We again have complete independence in the market without having to dispense with the advantages of the previous partnership.” TUI has made more announcements elsewhere is Europe. The travel group will launch a Belgian charter carrier on 1 April to be sister company to its Belgian tour operator, Jetair. TUI Airlines Belgium will fly shorthaul and mediumhaul routes including include Spain, Portugal, Greece, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Malta, and Italy. From June it hopes to expand its network to longhaul, flying to holiday spots like Dominican Republic, Mexico, Cuba and Jamaica. According to a TUI spokeswoman in Belgium, JetAir used to fly passengers with Sobel Air, which ceased trading at the end of last year. TUI currently uses Thomas Cook Airlines and LTU to fly its holidaymakers. TUI Belgium is the largest Belgian tourism company, and posted a turnover of 874 million euros in 2002. Report by Ginny McGrath
Ginny McGrath
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports