City and finance

Seven things that could shape agents' fortunes in 2024

At the start of a new year, we assess some of the challenges that could come to bear on travel agents – and the industry as a whole

Delays inevitable following EU entry-exit rollout next year, Advantage boss warns

Advantage chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said said it is likely there will be delays when the EU introduces biometric border checks next year

Easyjet confirms major aircraft order to fuel growth into the 2030s

EasyJet seals deal with Airbus for new aircraft that it says will cement growth plans until 2034

Travel mergers and acquisitions on the rise again, says advisory firm

Grant Thornton reports increase in the number of UK travel mergers and acquisitions in the third quarter

Halsbury Travel Group acquires venerable Scottish school tour operator

IBT founder Iain Black said he was “delighted” about the deal

Tui floats plan to quit London Stock Exchange

Shareholders tell Tui its majority German ownership means it no longer needs to be listed on the London Stock Exchange

Holiday price hikes to slow next summer, Tui predicts

Tui has given a confident outlook for 2024, with no let-up in demand – and with package price inflation lower than in 2023

Thomson and Tui veteran David Burling to step down after 34 years

David Burling joined Thomson Holidays as a graduate trainee in 1990 and served as managing director of Tui UK and Ireland from 2011 to 2015

Tui boss backs third-party retailers, but says app will go global

Tui has reiterated its faith in third-party agents, but has outlined plans to capture more commoditised sales via a global roll-out of its app

Tui bullish despite Egypt hit as average selling price continues to rise

Airline and operator hopeful of strong winter 2023/24 and summer 2024 seasons with average selling prices up 5% and 4% respectively, highlighting ’continued willingness to prioritise spend on travel and experiences’

Tui focused on becoming 'more profitable, more efficient and stronger' in 2024

European travel giant hopeful of growing earnings by a quarter next year, and revenue by a further 10%, despite a market environment that chief executive Sebastian Ebel characterised as ’remaining challenging’

On the Beach's B2B growth 'slower than expected' despite long-haul and premium surge

The OTA has pinned the slow down on the B2B market becoming ’more crowded’ as ’tour operators and low-cost airlines compete for share of high street agent and homeworker business’

Why agents can't bank on travel being 'insulated' from the cost of living crisis forever

Despite an encouraging post-Covid rebound, and the recent Autumn Statement giving the nation’s finances a little boost, travel’s recovery remains fragile heading into Christmas and the new year

Travel Counsellors membership tips record 2,000 business owners

The homeworking giant has recruited 300 new members over the past year, taking its membership past 2,000

Travel PR and representation firm Siren ceases trading after 22 years

Directors confirm decision to place the business in voluntary liquidation

Abta seeks industry feedback to boost latest lobbying efforts

According to public affairs director Luke Petherbridge, it’s important the industry has conversation with politicians from all sides

Heathrow owner Ferrovial sells majority stake for $3bn

Ferrovial has agreed to sell 15% to French private equity Ardian and 10% to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund

EasyJet counts cost of Middle East crisis but is upbeat about summer

EasyJet spells out the impact of the crisis in the Middle East but says it will not derail its ambitions for the coming year

EasyJet holidays contributes to good 2023 group financial result

EasyJet has revealed a turnaround in its 2023 financial results helped by its in-house tour operation

Iglu 'focused on 2024 and beyond' despite cruise sale report

City sources told The Sunday Times the company’s owner is likely to want to sell for a valuation of ’about 10 times forward earnings’

Travel businesses told to ‘shape their future before it shapes them’

Hoseasons former boss Richard Carrick has urged delegates to make forecasts with caution

'Specialists must treat the mass market as a barometer', Aito members told

Travel Trade Consultancy director Martin Alcock warns large operators could be forced to ’pull the levers’ if their growth in 2024 is lower than expected, potentially impacting specialists

Dame Irene Hays: ‘We've acquired some exceptional people at Travel House’

Hays Travel owner reveals to TTG the independent’s plans for its latest acquisition, stressing the importance of an orderly transition and ensuring the Travel House team are ‘happy, confident and feel safe’

Hays Travel acquires south Wales miniple Travel House

Travel House, which has 16 shops across south Wales, became a member of the Hays Travel Independence Group in 2021