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    Troubled Thomas Cook Reports £91m Loss

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    SymbolPriceChange
    TTVLF.PK2.56-0.34

    Holiday operator Thomas Cook has announced heavy quarterly losses but said it is encouraged by bookings for the coming summer.

    The British travel firm made a loss of £91m in the last three months of 2011, compared with a loss of £37m during the same period the year before.

    But it revealed that summer bookings were only down by 1%, putting the world's oldest travel company ahead of its biggest rivals.

    The company said it had been encouraged by activity in the home market.

    Thomas Cook acting chief executive Sam Weihagen said: "I have been encouraged by how our bookings have developed, particularly in the UK where our market share for both the winter and summer seasons remains broadly stable."

    But the company said it was affected by the political upheaval in the Middle East and North Africa and expects 2012 to remain a challenging year.

    The results came in contrast to rival firm TUI Travel (Other OTC: TTVLF.PK - news) , which owns Thomson and First Choice.

    It said on February 7 that it significantly outperformed competitors in Britain during January.

    Thomas Cook's future has been in question since it warned of a possible debt default and asked lenders to come to its rescue twice in five weeks.

    The firm issued three profit warnings last year, and the crisis reached its highest point with the departure of chief executive Manny Fontenla-Novoa in August.

    It now plans to sell its 77% stake in Thomas Cook India in an attempt to bring down its debts of £890m.

    The day before posting the results, a Thomas Cook Airbus 320, bound for Tenerife with 175 passengers on board, was forced to do an emergency landing after taking off in Belfast.

     

    6 comments

    • Southern Man  •  3 months ago
      The article above is virtually meaningless, % of what If you turn over 91 Bn a 91M loss is bearable but if you turn over 9M a 91 Mill loss is something to be concerned about !!!

      Summer Bookings down by 1% AGAINST WHAT ?

      Come on who ever wrote this drivel needs to be sacked PLEASE convey meaningful statistics
    • citizen smith  •  North Shields, England  •  3 months ago
      Good, I had a terrible holiday with them, wrote a complaint with photo's video of the terrible family friendly hotel, which had no play area as it was being build over by more accomodation.
    • Josie  •  Reading, England  •  3 months ago
      Behind every hideous headline & sarky comment, there's thousands of very worried staff who have no control whatsoever of these situations - please remember that !!
    • Patricia  •  Reading, England  •  3 months ago
      The management of this company has dragged it down to leave it in its current parless state. Save your sympathy for its staff and customers, both groups have been let down by a company more interested in quick profit than maintaining a once great reputation.
    • Joe  •  3 months ago
      And how much bonus have their directors had?
    • Brucey  •  Manchester, England  •  3 months ago
      Summer bookings only down 1%, so they can expect Manny on the phone asking for his £1m pay off.