UK: Tour operator to cut jobs – and maybe capacity
All eyes are once again on the troubled tour operator MyTravel after it announced it is likely to lay off some 700 employees to combat difficult trading conditions and the threat of a new war in Iraq. As reported by News From Abroad, MyTravel laid off some 1,600 workers shortly after the 11 September attacks, and in November reported a massive loss of more than £72 million. MyTravel is also reported to be considering a huge reduction in its holiday capacity, with some industry analysts speculating that up to 300,000 holidays could be ditched. The Times reports that the company is already in negotiations with its 15,000 UK workers over redundancies; there is also speculation that there will be job losses for MyTravel staff working abroad.
