TUI summer passengers down 15%
TUI Travel’s total customers for the summer are down by 15% down year-on-year based on capacity trimmed by 14%, according to majority shareholder TUI AG.
Average selling prices in the UK have remained 10% ahead of last year for the summer with volumes in line with capacity reductions.
As a result the programme load factor is now 58%, which is flat versus last year.
Recent trading continues to show improvement versus the cumulative position, with volumes in the last eight weeks down 11% compared to cumulative bookings down 17%.
In recent weeks, demand for long haul holidays has been "particularly strong" despite the outbreak of swine flu in Mexico, with bookings up two per cent in the last two weeks compared to cumulative bookings down 25%.
Demand has switched from Mexico to other medium and long haul destinations, particularly Jamaica (+30% in the last two weeks), Egypt (+23%) and the Dominican Republic (+19%).
Of the around 2,500 holidaymakers in Mexico at the time of the outbreak, only about10% accepted our offer of early repatriation, the company revealed.
The trend towards non-euro destinations continues, especially to Egypt and Turkey, with the non-euro destination mix up three points to 32%.
Demand continues to be strong for differentiated content (mix up six points to 34%) and all-inclusives (mix up four points to 33%) as customers continue to seek value for money differentiated experiences, TUI Travel said.
The figures show overall bookings for summer from the UK down by 17% based on capacity reduced by the same level.
“The special one-off effects arising in the first quarter will be followed by sustainable integration synergies as the year progresses. Provided the summer business will be good, overall earnings are therefore expected to improve slightly.”
Phil Davies
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