Long haul market recovering, says ebookers

Ebookers has reported a positive start to 2004, and says demand for mid and long haul holidays is up. The online agent says it makes most of its money in selling the more lucrative long and mid haul trips. While bookings in general have been strong in 2004, ebookers says there has been a return to more favourable market conditions for long and mid haul travel. Chief executive and chairman Dinesh Dhamija said: “In contrast to many of our competitors, ebookers sells the majority of its products to long and mid haul destinations. In 2003, long and mid haul was affected by the Iraq War, SARS and a European heatwave. Recently, however, there are strong signs that the long and mid haul market is bouncing back and our sales are benefiting from this.” Sales in the last quarter of last year exceeded analysts’ expectations and were up on the previous quarter, according to ebookers. Ebookers announces its full year results for 2003 on 22 March, and until then enters a closed period.