TUI winter bookings catching up to pre-pandemic levels

There is, however, a risk that the pent-up demand seen during the summer will not be matched as consumers tighten purse strings on non-essential expenditure

Earlier this year, COO Sebastian Ebel, who takes over from longtime CEO Fritz Joussen in October, said the business had performed well 'despite the operational challenges in the European tourism sector'.

Holiday group TUI stuck to its forecast of returning to profitability this year and said winter bookings stood at 78% of pre-pandemic levels.

The group, one of the world's largest tour operators, said bookings for the months of November and December were at 81% of 2018-2019 levels and that it expected the trend of late or last-minute bookings to continue for the winter holidays.