Airtours, Britain's largest tour operator, has run
up losses of £75m in the first nine months of
the year, leaving it vulnerable to a takeover.
C&N Touristic
of Germany, as revealed
previously on Natives, is rumoured to be in talks
with the company. Airtours, which also owns the Going
Places, Tradewinds, Bridge and Cresta brands, refused
to comment on speculation. Thomson Travel, another
major British travel group, was bought
by Preussag of Germany earlier this year.
Ironically, Britain
was the one bright spot in Airtours figures, with
a 16% increase in summer bookings this year. The company
will now downsize its holdings in Belgium, Holland
and France. Speculation remains with regard to Germany,
where a takeover by C&N still seems probable.
