Reuters has reported that TUI Group is planning to consolidate its fragmented airline operations – TUIfly Germany, TUIfly Nordic, Jetairfly, Arkefly and Thomson Airways – under the latter’s platform. Cost savings will be made by combining the airlines’ fuel purchasing, aircraft leasing, maintenance and administration under the one platform. The news service quotes sources that state the move could save more than €100 million but cause the loss of thousands of jobs, mainly at TUIfly’s base in Hannover, Germany.
Sources also suggest that the UK airline was chosen as the base for the new airline operations as “compensation for TUI Travel losing some activities to TUI Group's Hanover headquarters as part of the merger of TUI AG and TUI Travel”.
TUI has not officially made any decision yet but told the news service that it “was looking at various business models to strengthen the airline operations under the leadership of CEO Henrik Homann, but that no decision had yet been taken and could be some time off”.