MyTravel & Thomas Cook To Merge
Two of the UK leading holiday companies have today announced that they are to merge. MyTravel & Thomas Cook are to come together and form the Thomas Cook Group.
Based in the UK the Thomas Cook group will also operate in Scandinavia, Ireland, Western Europe, and Canada.
Thomas Cook - Thomas Cook, Club 18-30, FlyThomasCook, Style Holidays, Latitude, Thomas Cook Signature, Thomas Cook Airlines, Thomas Cook TV.
My Travel Group - My Travel, Airtours, Direct Holidays, Panorama, Manos, Going Places, The Cruise Store, Holidayline, Hotelstogo, LateEscapes, Aspro, Bridge Travel, Cresta Holidays, Escapades, Tradewinds, MyTravelLite.
The merger is subject to approval from MyTravel’s shareholders, although it’s backed unanimously by the MyTravel board.
What does this mean for the consumer? The merger, which is planned for June 2007, which will result in a huge choice of holidays and ultimately big savings, as the two companies overheads are reduced as a result.
After announcing the merger MyTravel and Thomas Cook said they had no intention of bidding for rival UK holiday firm First Choice’s package-holiday business, which is still up for sale. Virgin Holidays are the only other party rumoured to be still interested in FC.
Discussion: MyTravel + Thomas Cook To Merge
Links:
Thomas Cook Announcement (pdf)
Thomas Cook & My Travel Key Facts (pdf)
**** UPDATE ****
The proposed merger has been approved by the European Commission, ruling that the merger will not be detrimental to the consumer.
HW Techie said,
February 12, 2007 @ 2:47 pm
First Choice announced today that the package holiday arm of their business is no longer for sale.
http://www.firstchoiceholidaysplc.com/fchplc/media/press/?ref=109
First Choice & TUI Merge «Travel News on Holiday Watchdog said,
March 19, 2007 @ 9:31 am
[…] Similar to the Thomas Cook / My Travel merger, the merger will allow the new larger company to cut costs and job losses in the UK are expected. […]