£14 million blow for Thomas Cook during unrest
A FALL in the number of sunseekers has taken the shine off Thomas Cook’s interim results.
Political unrest had a role to play as about 250,000 fewer customers travelled to Egypt in the six months to March 31, slicing £131million off revenues and £14million from profits.
Summer holiday bookings, promoted last year by James Nesbitt, left, fell 1 per cent and the average selling price slid 3 per cent as demand for cheaper city breaks grew.
Overall group revenues fell from £3.2billion to £3billion, sending the shares sliding XXp to XXp.
Chief executive Harriet Green, who was named Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman Of The Year this week, remained optimistic, pointing to how cost-cutting was ahead of plan and that underlying losses are improving by £30million to £187million.
The group is increasing its range of exclusive hotel holidays – expected to boost average selling prices.