Tour operator says poor 'snow season' in the Alps and unrest in north Africa and the Middle East have hit profits
- guardian.co.uk,
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Egyptian tour guides at the Giza pyramids urge tourists to return to the country. Turmoil in the Middle East and north Africa added £4m to Thomas Cook's losses in the UK. Photograph: Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty Images
Poor ski conditions in the Alps, as well as political unrest in the Middle East and north Africa, have hit profits at Thomas Cook.
The travel operator said that its UK performance was particularly weak as consumers had tightened their belts.
UK revenues increased slightly but losses at the division were £158m, up from £116m last year.
"A poor 'snow season' in the Alps adversely impacted demand for ski holidays, particularly in the lates [late bookings] market, leading to lower average selling prices and margins," the company said.
The unrest in the Middle East and north Africa added £4m to losses in the UK, with the group's overall losses £22m greater as a result.
The late Easter added £15m to group losses. Revenue from holidays booked over the Easter period will fall into the second half of the company's financial year.
Despite its late timing, Easter was good for the company, Thomas Cook said. It has sold an extra 100,000 trips to British consumers as people took time off between Easter and the extra bank holiday given for the royal wedding.
The UK accounts for about a third of Thomas Cook's revenues. The group as a whole saw revenues increase to £3.4bn for the six months to the end of March, up £122m on the same period a year earlier.Continued
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