TUI Travel cashes in on holidaymakers seeking sunny weather

By ROB DAVIES FOR THE DAILY MAIL

Updated: 17:22 EST, 27 September 2012

TUI Travel has thrived as rival Thomas Cook gets back on its feet, thanks to holidaymakers fleeing Britain during a sodden summer.

The company, which owns the Thomson and First Choice brands, said UK bookings for the coming winter are 2 per cent ahead of last year, while its other key market in Germany is up 7 per cent.

And Britons are already getting the sunblock out for next year, with bookings for summer 2013 some 10 per cent up on last year.

Seeking the sun: Holidaymakers fleeing Britain during a sodden summer gave TUI Travel a boost

Boss Peter Long said Tui (up 2.9p to 233p) was on track to meet City forecasts that it will make a profit of more than £350million this year.

The firm has benefited from the travails of Thomas Cook, which is being rebuilt under new chief executive Harriet Green after it came close to collapsing last year.

Peel Hunt analyst Nick Batram said Tui was likely to benefit from Thomas Cook’s pain more in 2013 than it did in 2012.