Thomas Cook and Thomson sometimes charge more for kids

In a report in today's Daily Mail, both Thomson and Thomas Cook have been revealed as charging more for holidays involving a family group of two adults and two children as opposed to four adults travelling together. Both companies detail the reasons why in the full story linked here.

Thomas Cook Closing 200 High Street Shops

Thomas Cook is to close 200 High Street shops and lay-off 1,000 staff over the next 2 years as it struggles to recover from a £398 million loss.

More here...

Thomas Cook and Co-Op Travel to merge

The Competition Commission (CC) has cleared a merger between struggling Thomas Cook's UK retail business and those of the Co-operative group and Midlands Co-operative Society, to create the country's biggest retail travel operation.

The deal will bring together three of the biggest travel agents on the high street. Thomas Cook currently has 780 stores, while the Co-op has 360 travel shops and the Midlands 100.

"The CC has concluded that... customers are unlikely to suffer from significantly higher prices or reduced choice as a result of the joint venture." 

Rival TUI Travel, which owns the Thomson and First Choice chains, has fared better in recent times.

Thomas Cook plans to conduct its tour operator business separately from the joint venture.