TUI changes things

Thomson Airways, once remembered as Britannia, could disappear over the next three years.

It is the world’s largest charter airline with a fleet of 60 aircraft and was the first UK operator of the Boeing 787.  It has eight in service. 

German owner, travel conglomerate TUI Group, says it plans to migrate its various offerings into a single brand across all its markets probably signalling the end of Thomson and First Choice names.  But there is nothing definite about plans for the airline.

Currently TUI Group also owns Arkefly (Netherlands), Corsair International (France), Jetairfly (Belgium), TUIfly (Germany) and TUIfly Nordic (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden).

Group Chief Executive Peter Long said that the migration to the TUI brand would take place over several years to create "one power brand".

"There's no hurry, no urgency, it will all be done in a very controlled way," said Long. "We are not rushing to rebrand and we are not rebranding for the sake of it."

He said that the migration would start in TUI's smaller markets, including France and Holland and learn from lessons learned there before phasing out its popular brands elsewhere.  The UK, TUI's largest market, will be the last country to switch.

"We are not going to say overnight Thomson is gone.  We are going to be very careful," added Long.   www.tui-group.com

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