UK summer bookings fall 33% at Thomas Cook

23rd Jan 2012 11:32

British tour operator Thomas Cook saw summer bookings by British customers fall 33% in the first two weeks of 2012, according to an industry leisure monitor reviewed by Financial Times.The start of January is a key period for tour operators with around 15% of summer bookings usually made in the first half of the month.The decline in bookings is twice the sector average (-15%) and three times the decline at TUI Travel, seen as another benchmark for the sector.The figures mark the latest episode in what has been a trying time for the travel group. In November last year, Thomas Cook said it was going back to its banks because of a "deterioration of trading in some areas of the business in the current quarter". Subsequently, the firm's banks agreed to provide a new £200m facility available until 30 April 2013, which replaces the £100m short-term facility announced on 21 October 2011. In December, the company's delayed full-year results for the 12 months to the end of September showed an £398m pre-tax loss compared with a profit of £42m the year before.Shares of Thomas Cook were down 3.33% at 14.5p on Monday afternoon, some 92.85% under their price a year ago.SB