Tui to open talks over consolidating group airline

Central to the German travel giant’s plans will be merging its five European carriers to become a single company, based in Hanover.

This includes Tui Airways, the group’s UK carrier, as well as its German, Belgian, Dutch and Nordic divisions.

Its total fleet will be cut "to about half" of its current 39 aircraft according to Tui Fly managing director Oliver Lackmann.

This, said Lackmann, would result in job losses across technical, administrative and crew functions.

Hanover and Dusseldorf will be the carrier’s main departure airports, along with Frankfurt, Munich and Stuttgart.

Tui will guarantee roles until the end of 2021 while the proposed consolidation and restructuring efforts are ongoing.

"There is no doubt these are major changes and cutbacks for our employees and for the company," said Lackmann.

"The Tui fly fleet is too large for the customer base of our German Tui tour operator. We must reduce this fleet and work more closely together within the five airlines of the group."