Does a Tour Operator Really Need Its Own Airline?
Skift Take
TUI clearly thinks having an airline is crucial, but what about its big rival Thomas Cook?
TUI CEO Fritz Joussen believes the company’s in-house airline is still a key component of the overall tourism business despite the broader challenges in the European aviation industry.
Thanks to high fuel prices and increased competition, running an airline — or at least one that is profitable — has become much tougher over the last couple of years.
“I think our aviation operation is essential but it’s very tough,”said Joussen at the ITB Berlin travel conference recently.
When Air Berlin collapsed in 2017, Ryanair and EasyJet ended up buying parts of its operation, but both will take time to produce a profit.
“At the end of the day we have a market where competitors are prepared to lose 300 to 400 mi
