Tui summer bookings slow as boss warns European economy ‘needs new momentum'
The company, which is Europe's largest travel operator, said summer sales are 1% down compared with the same point last year, with a pipeline of about 8.6 million bookings for the key holiday season.
It said UK summer bookings are at the same point compared with 2024, just under two-thirds of its total offerings sold, while in Germany bookings were down 3% year-on-year.
It blamed the overall slowdown partly on Easter falling later this year in April, which in turn pushed consumers' summer holiday bookings back and impacted its results for the six months to March.
Nonetheless, shares fell on Wednesday, after airlines including British Airways-owner IAG reported stronger results for the first quarter of 2025.
Chief executive Sebastian Ebel said that given recent economic 'uncertainties' the company's focus is on 'margin protection and cost reduction'.
He said: 'Given the economic conditions, 2025 will be challenging. Europe needs new momentum.
'We must return to an overall economy that is growing. More investment, more freedom – less regulation and less bureaucracy.
'This will strengthen the economy and consumer behaviour.'
Tui reported widening losses for the six months ending March 31, with reported losses coming in at 217 million euros (£182.6 million).
Meanwhile, revenue over the same period rose by about 8% to 8.6 billion euros (£7.2 billion), partly helped by growing business in its cruise business, after it launched two new ships.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'Best job in Britain' up for grabs - here's how to apply
The role is unpaid, but comes with a unique perk as the successful applicants get £10,000 worth of free holidays across Europe The best job in Britain is up for grabs, and it involves testing holidays for a year. The role doesn't come with a salary, but the perks are unbeatable. The lucky family who lands the Chief Family Holiday Tester position will receive £10,000 worth of free holidays across Europe. The chosen UK-based family will be whisked away on multiple trips to family-friendly resorts. They'll be tasked with testing everything from ice creams to sunbathing spots, and they should be as adept at rating waterpark slides as they are at enjoying a late-night cocktail once the kids are tucked up in bed. All flights, accommodation, and meals are included. The only requirement is that applicants must have at least one child under the age of 12. This unique opportunity is a collaboration between family day out platform Day Out With The Kids (DOWTK) and holiday giant TUI. They're looking for a family to test and review TUI's top family-friendly resorts. The winning family will be expected to provide honest feedback, share social content, and help understand what families truly value when planning their time away. A spokesperson for Day Out With The Kids said: "We want real families - the ones who pack snacks like pros, navigate kids' clubs with confidence and rate a splash park just as highly as a sunset cocktail. "Explorers, ice cream experts, pool-slide critics, parents who know the joy of an early breakfast and a rare, glorious lie-in." The job description states the candidates should be: "Full of personality and love family adventures. "Confident in creating content, photos, videos or short reviews. Happy to appear in DOWTK and TUI marketing with consent." All applicants need to do is head to the TUI website and find three hotels you'd love to stay at, one each in the price range of: under £500, £500-£1000 and £1000+ per person. Following this, fill out the entry form with the names of the hotels and answer any questions about your family. "We're not looking for influencers, just real families who love to travel and can share their honest experiences with us in photos, videos or written feedback." Applications close on 4 August.
Telegraph
6 hours ago
- Telegraph
Five essential things to know before you board a TUI River Cruises ship
River cruises are the newest venture for travel giant TUI, which officially entered the sector in August 2021 with the launch of the 155-passenger TUI Maya following an 18-month delay due to the Covid pandemic. The adult-only ship was soon joined by sisters TUI Skyla and TUI Isla, who collectively sail some of Europe's leading waterways. In winter 2024, TUI River Cruises expanded geographically and launched its first Nile River ship: TUI Al Horeya (Arabic for freedom). This inaugural Nile ship proved so popular that a second, TUI Al Bahareya, is due to debut in Egypt towards the end of 2025. Yet regardless of which TUI River Cruises ship you set sail on, you can be sure they have Brits in mind; kettles and Twinings tea bags can be found in every cabin, while shore experiences can be pre-purchased in sterling. Onboard, a fun and sociable vibe prevails: the amiable and talented entertainment team lead quizzes, trivia contests, and Motown Moves sessions. They also perform West End hits, pop classics, and rock and roll anthems and host silent discos and stargazing sessions. Expect local guest acts, too – on my recent TUI Nile River cruise, energetic belly dancers, Egyptian whirling dervishes and traditional Nubian acts all performed on board. What's even better is how much is included in the cost of your river cruise: all entertainment, drinks, meals, gratuities, unlimited internet access, and even a return flight. All you'll need to put your hand in your pocket for are select shore excursions, spa treatments, and shop purchases. This transparency makes the line a great option for anyone looking to explore Europe and Egypt without breaking the bank. 1. Where does TUI River Cruises sail? In Europe, TUI Isla, Skyla and Maya sail the Rhine, with its billowing vineyards and dramatic cliffs, and the Danube, which strings together some of Europe's most majestic cities and sights such as Budapest's Parliament building and the lavish palaces of Vienna. Stops on a Rhine cruise could include Strasbourg, where you can wander the Roman streets and admire the half-timbered houses, Cologne, to sample the city's signature Kölsch beer, and the quaint town of Rudesheim, home to the quirky Siegfried's Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum with its unique collection of automated musical instruments. In addition, TUI Isla offers itineraries on the Main, which meanders out from the east of the Rhine and through the middle of Germany, the Moselle, a must for wine lovers, and the beautiful Belgian and Dutch waterways. Summer 2025 marks the start of sailings along Portugal's Douro River onboard TUI Alma. The line's first new-build river ship will offer seven-night round-trip sailings from Porto calling at Entre-os-Rios, Peso de Regua, Vega de Terron and Barca d'Alva. Yet another new European ship, TUI Ria, is scheduled to launch in summer 2026 and will also sail on the Rhine and Moselle. Egypt also features on the agenda with an unforgettable cruise along the Nile. The group's first Nile ship, TUI Al Horeya, operates a seven-night Legends of the Nile voyage; a round-trip sailing from Luxor that calls at Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan. Sister ship, Tui Bahareya, is slated to debut on the Nile in November 2025 and will offer two round-trip routes from Luxor: the Legends of the Nile cruise and a seven-night Ancient Gods and Famous Pharaohs itinerary. Both sailings will take you to Egypt's most famous historic sites, including the Valley of the Kings, Aswan and the Temple of Horus. Two Egyptologists will also be on board to reveal the stories that lie behind the extraordinary temples and tombs. 2. Who does TUI River Cruises appeal to? The line has gone out of its way to attract British passengers with flights (on TUI Airways) offered from a number of UK airports. As TUI River Cruises ships are strictly adults-only, they fit the bill for couples and groups of friends seeking a relaxed and informal sailing. Solo travellers aren't neglected either: each ship has been fitted with a handful of single cabins and those going it alone can meet up with like-minded travellers at mealtimes and social events. All told, you might embark on a river cruise as a single traveller, but you certainly won't end up alone. You'll find plenty of first-time river cruisers on board too. These are typically guests who have travelled with TUI before, be it on a package holiday or an ocean voyage with sister line Marella Cruises, and fancy experimenting on a new type of holiday with a company they feel comfortable with. With absolutely everything included in the fare, TUI River Cruises is also a great option for cost-conscious travellers who want to get away without worrying about extra fees. 3. The fleet TUI Skyla, TUI Isla, TUI Maya (151, 155, and 155 passengers respectively) Sails to: Danube, Rhine. TUI Isla also sails the Dutch & Belgian waterways, Main and Moselle The trio of adult-only vessels share a light and breezy aesthetic, with each ship featuring two restaurants and two bars as well as a wellness area and activity area on the top deck. Cabins span several categories, ranging from singles to suites. TUI Al Horeya (145 passengers) W inter 2024 marked the debut of TUI Al Horeya on the Nile. The freshly refurbished ship features 72 river-facing cabins, the lion's share of which have French balconies. Spacious public spaces include the third-floor Observatory lounge – head here for enlightening lectures and film showings during the day, and cabaret and trivia contests at night – two restaurants, a small gym, and a top deck with an inviting pool, hot tubs, sun loungers and a shaded bar seating area. TUI Alma (123 passengers) Sails to: Douro Meaning 'soul' in Portuguese, TUI Alma – the line's first brand-new ship – will cruise along Portugal's River Douro when it launches in 2025. Expect 62 river-facing staterooms situated across three of the four passenger decks, plus a shallow pool with seating areas, main restaurant and Portuguese-inspired al fresco dining space. TUI Bahareya (136 passengers) Sails to: Nile TUI Bahareya will be the sixth ship to join the fleet when it launches towards the end of 2025. The name means 'belongs to the river' in Arabic and the ship will accommodate 136 passengers in 68 cabins, including standard French balcony cabins and superior cabins. While the real attraction of any Nile cruise lies on dry land, TUI Bahareya will have plenty to keep guests entertained, from an open-air pool to a massage tent and an entertainment area. TUI Ria (190 passengers) Sails to: Rhine, Moselle This will be the largest ship in the fleet when it launches in summer 2026 and the big talking point is the onboard pool that will double as a restaurant: in the evening, the pool floor will rise to close off the water, transforming the space into a secondary dining venue and entertainment area. It will even have a retractable roof, allowing guests to take a dip whatever the weather. In addition, there will be a choice of restaurants, lounges and entertainment spaces. 4. Loyalty scheme None officially, but the line says that it does try to offer repeat guests 'access to things like exclusive offers and events' as a thank you for their loyalty. 5. Access for guests with disabilities Wheelchairs cannot be used on board, so TUI River Cruises says that if you're unable to walk unaided up and down flights of stairs, then a cruise with them may not be suitable for you. It's worth contacting the Assisted Travel Team (0203 451 2688) before booking a cruise if you have specific needs.
Metro
9 hours ago
- Metro
I'm an ex-flight attendant — there's unexpected protocol for medical emergencies
At 30,000 feet in the air, you really don't want to experience any kind of emergency, but these situations are usually outside our control, as Stephen Graham's story proves. The 51-year-old Adolescence star recently shared the 'scary' moment he had to have an emergency operation on a plane after urinating blood. During an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Stephen explained that he had a blood clot lodged behind his urethra and a surgeon had to perform a catheter procedure right there and then on the flight, which took place in a makeshift operating area between the economy and first class cabins. According to Del Wilden, an ex-flight attendant who worked with British Airways for 26 years, major medical emergencies like this do occur on flights but are relatively rare – he only experienced two in his entire time as cabin crew. In the event that this happens, there are some little-known protocols staff have to follow and Del, a former purser (Senior Cabin Crew Manager), has revealed them to Metro, as well as the one thing most Brits don't realise about cabin crew training. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. In the event of a medical emergency, Del says cabin crew would always start by asking passengers if there was a medical professional on board, and while they were ideally seeking a doctor, nurse or paramedic, there was one other profession help could be accepted from, and it might surprise you. 'We were always told that if a medical professional didn't come forward, but a vet came forward and was prepared to help, we were allowed to accept that, he says. 'We had to get them to sign a form of indemnity before they started to help and it would usually only be if a situation was so serious it warranted help urgently.' Until someone came forward, cabin crew would provide as much first aid assistance as they could and Del claims they have much more rigorous training in this area than most Brits realise. 'Until a professional came forward, we would act accordingly. So if it was a heart attack, we'd commence CPR immediately, while another crew member would gather equipment, like a defibrillator and oxygen, and someone else would keep the captain informed of the situation.' As well as being trained in CPR, Del says he was also taught to deliver a baby, in case someone ever went into labour during a flight. If there were no experts on the flight to help, cabin crew would be able to call a company called MedLink for advice in the event of an on board medical emergency. Each plane also had its own special medical kit on board known as an M5. According to Del, half of the kit was for crew to use, while the other half was intended for professional medical use, and this is where the catheter for Stephen Graham's operation would have been found. As well as medical emergencies, Del says there are two other types of emergencies flight attendants may have to deal with – pre-planned and catastrophic. A pre-planned emergency is a situation that develops during a flight and is something that cabin crew have been prepared to respond to. They'll have protocols in place for dealing with the issue and there's usually a bit more time to handle it. An example of a pre-planned emergency might be that the plane has lost its hydraulics for landing. In a situation like this, Del said there would be an 'alert call' over the PA system from the captain, who would ask the senior cabin crew to report to the flight deck immediately. 'As crew, if you hear that during the service you would put your trolley away and go to your station (door) and await a call from the senior crew member,' he says. When the senior team member returned they would then give their crew what's called a 'NITS' breakdown for the emergency, which stands for nature, intention, time and special instructions. For the hydraulics example, the nature of the emergency would be that the plane has lost the hydraulics, the intention might be to dump some fuel and for time, the pilot might have said they have about 45 minutes until they need to land. In this situation, Del says the special instructions could be not to evacuate the plane immediately once they've landed. Following this, the next step would be for the crew to brief passengers on the situation. 'We would go out into the cabin and we'd all have various positions. The captain would do a PA announcement and tell them that there's a situation and what's happening and then they would play a pre-recorded announcement,' Del explains. More Trending 'This always starts with 'Attention, attention, this is an emergency announcement' and then it would tell passengers to follow the crew's instructions.' He adds: 'We would always go through the announcements twice, because we were taught that passengers won't really take much in the first time as they'll be a bit shell shocked, but once you play it a second time, it starts to sink in.' For a catastrophic emergency, such as a plane crash, there isn't the same amount of time to prepare, so Del says staff who are able to do so would have to act instinctively on whatever the situation is. 'If you survive whatever is happening, there's no time involved to make a plan, you basically based on your training would have to use your instincts and find a way to get passengers out of the plane. But before you open any doors, the most crucial step would be to look for fire or any other kind of danger.' Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Stephen Graham had emergency operation on a plane after 'very scary' health problem MORE: Ireland has a US border — it could help travellers nervous about Trump's America MORE: 9 UK companies that give staff a share of profits — including bonuses up to £14,000
