City and finance

Doncaster Sheffield airport likely to name new operator within weeks

Doncaster Sheffield airport looks closer to reopening after the local council, which leases it, received tenders from operators, with an announcement likely within weeks

Summer 2024 'sold well' despite late booking trend and cost worries

A TTG Agenda 2024 panel agreed the summer had so far sold well, but a section of the market is holding back due to financial concerns

Consumer sentiment on the up, but holiday cost remains an issue – PwC

PwC survey reveals optimism among consumers about the economy, but some are holding back on booking travel citing cost and concern about household finances

Advantage Travel Partnership profits double to reach highest level since 2018

Consortium’s net profit for the 12 months to 30 September last year soar to nearly £1.2 million

Saudi government to buy larger stake in Heathrow airport

Paris-based Ardian will acquire a 22.6% stake, while Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will buy a 15% stake – up from a previously agreed 10%

Further 175,000 FTI trips cancelled as package takeover talks fail

All FTI Touristik trips due to depart from Saturday 6 July cancelled with immediate effect

Sandals chief to take over at HX in management reshuffle

HX, formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions, has appointed a former Sandals Resorts boss as its new chief executive

Fred Olsen Travel expansion continues with acquisition of 21st branch

Solent World Travel in Lee-on-Solent becomes the agency’s latest acquisition, its eighth new or acquired agency since 2021

Why travel must learn to tell its story better: eight takeaways from the ITT conference

Hundreds of current and future travel leaders took on some of the weightiest issues facing the industry this week at the 2024 ITT conference; James Chapple reports

Tui takes on FTI clients following operator's 'disheartening' collapse

The group has pledged to help clients, hoteliers and destinations affected by the insolvency of German rival FTI Touristik

Youtravel bookings crisis 'potentially distressing' for agents

The suspension of bookings by Youtravel following the insolvency of parent company FTI Touristik in Germany has consequences for agents, operators and OTAs, experts say

Julia Lo Bue-Said: 'We need £200k to get govt to recognise travel as an economic sector'

Advantage Travel Partnership chief calls for travel to band together to fund a lobbying ’war-chest’ to ’drive policy engagement through what may be a change of government’

Spending on travel agents remains a priority despite challenging month - Barclays

Travel remained a priority for Brits in May despite the majority feeling the pinch of rising household bills, Barclays said

Major Travel outlines growth targets following acquisition by InteleTravel

’Our vision is to become the leading trade-exclusive tour operator in the UK within the next five years,’ says tailor-made operator’s managing director Qasim Gulamhusein

Travel Counsellors reports record second quarter as sales hit £270 million

Travel Counsellors has recorded its best ever second quarter, with sales reaching £270 million

Aviation growth could unlock billions in wasted economic potential – study

New research commissioned by Manchester Airports Group suggests greater government support for aviation could unlock more than £10 billion in economic value

UK ‘unprepared for new EU border rules’, says Lords committee

Lords casts doubts over the UK’s preparedness for the implementation of new national and European border rules

Simpson Travel secures additional funding to grow Med programme

The funding will be used to ’expand capacity’ across Simpson’s existing Mediterranean programme

Advantage confident package travel and Atol reforms will deliver better rules

Variable Atol protection contribution likely but proposed new rules around segregation of client monies likely to be ’watered down’ says Advantage chief operating officer Paul Nunn

Advantage fixes sights on being the 'voice of authority' for agents

Chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said tells Advantage conference delegates her consortium will continue to champion agents as being uniquely placed to help travellers navigate an ’increasingly complex’ world

Eurostar to invest in 50 new trains to meet 'huge' rail travel demand

Chief executive Gwendoline Cazenave says the investment will provide more capacity as train operator looks to service an additional 11.5 million passengers in the next six years

EasyJet trims winter losses in preparation for positive summer

Capacity growth, stable fuel costs and a strong performance from easyJet Holidays have put the airline in a strong position for the summer season ahead

Advantage chief: 'Travel must come together behind a single aim'

‘During Covid, many industry leaders talked about never wanting to be in the same position again should there be another crisis – so where are we now, and what have we learned?’ asks Julia Lo Bue-Said

Tui hits record revenue levels despite 4% price hike

The group expects to see revenue to increase ’by at least’ 10% year-on-year for the year ending in late September