Kuoni has publicly ruled out a purchase of First Choice’s mainstream business.
Speaking at the launch of its long-haul report, Kuoni managing director Sue Biggs said: “We are not buying First Choice, definitely not. Whether it will be Mytravel, Thomas Cook or Virgin I have no idea, but which ever channel it goes down, we are quite relaxed and quite happy about the outcome as we work closely with all of them.
“As far as further consolidation in the industry is concerned, yes, I think this is going to take place among the big four.”
Speculation linking First Choice with Swiss-owned Kuoni first arose last summer and resurfaced at the end of the year.
Since then Mytravel, Thomas Cook and Virgin have also been linked to First Choice, which is believed to be looking to sell off its mainstream business.
Kuoni purchased two upmarket specialist tour operators, Kirker Holidays and Journeys of Distinction, last year and Biggs said the company was looking to acquire further similar businesses.
“These companies will not be ‘Kuoni-ised,” she said.
By Bev Fearis
