The News
Thursday 25 of April 2024

Shares in UK travel agency plunge amid Brexit warning


AP Photo,A surfer goes to the Atlantic sea in Biarritz, southwestern France, Tuesday May 14, 2019. Temperatures in southwestern France reached 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit). (AP Photo/Bob Edme)
AP Photo,A surfer goes to the Atlantic sea in Biarritz, southwestern France, Tuesday May 14, 2019. Temperatures in southwestern France reached 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit). (AP Photo/Bob Edme)

LONDON (AP) — Shares in travel agency Thomas Cook slumped 17 percent after it reported a 1.5 billion pound ($1.9 billion) half year pre-tax loss and warned Brexit uncertainty was prompting travelers to delay bookings.

The cash-strapped firm has struggled amid competition online for bookings as well as a drop in demand for package vacations

CEO Peter Fankhauser says “there is now little doubt that the Brexit process has led many U.K. customers to delay their holiday plans for this summer.”

The firm also said Thursday that “challenging” trading over the peak summer season was also set to put the full-year result under pressure. Higher fuel and hotel costs were “creating further headwinds.”

The travel company confirmed it is considering offers for all or part of its airline.