Tour operator TUI confirms full-year outlook on back of strong bookings

Tour group TUI on Tuesday confirmed its full-year outlook for the 2023 financial year, citing strong bookings in the summer and upcoming winter season despite extreme weather from flooding to heatwaves disrupting flights and holidays.

European airlines benefited from a bumper tourist season on demand for post-pandemic holidays across the continent, but extreme weather dampened some of the optimism about a strong travel rebound.

Summer bookings for 2023 were at 13.7 million, up 5 per cent over the previous summer season, the company said in a statement.

"Had it not been for the various events during the last few months which were outside of our control, not least the wildfires on Rhodes, we would have performed ahead of expectations," CEO Sebastian Ebel said in a statement.

Forward bookings were up 15 per cent against winter of 2022 and 2023, the company said, while summer bookings were at 96 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. - Reuters

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