TUI leads airline sector lower as summer sales slow.


TUI shares were down almost 10% on Tuesday afternoon, after the Anglo-German leisure travel giant reported a slowdown in airline bookings for the summer season, raising concerns across the European travel sector.

TUI

Source: Sharecast

The Frankfurt-traded company, which delisted from the London Stock Exchange last June, said summer bookings in its airline division were up just 2% in the last three months of 2024 compared to the prior year, a sharp deceleration from 7% growth in the prior quarter.

It attributed the slowdown to a more cautious approach in capacity expansion and pricing.

The weaker airline performance offset continued strength in TUI’s holiday experiences segment, which drove an overall 13% rise in revenue to €4.9bn in the first quarter of its 2025 financial year.

That , which includes hotels, cruises, and experiences, delivered strong gains, with hotels and resorts reporting a record 65.8% increase in underlying earnings, while cruises saw a 39.6% rise, supported by fleet expansion.

Tui Musement, the company’s tours and transfers business, posted a 78.5% improvement.

Despite solid demand across most of its business, the markets and airlines segment saw a 31% decline in underlying earnings due to higher investments ahead of the summer season.

TUI’s cautious stance on airline capacity followed a broader trend in European travel, as shares of Wizz Air, Lufthansa, and easyJet also fell in response to the news.

The company reaffirmed its full-year guidance, projecting revenue growth of 5% to 10% and underlying earnings growth of 7% to 10%.

Bookings for the winter 2024-2025 and summer 2025 seasons were each up 2%, with average selling prices rising 4%.

The company also highlighted its continued expansion in dynamic packaging, particularly through its partnership with Ryanair, and its ongoing investments in digitalisation, with app-based sales in the UK rising 45% year-over-year.

TUI noted that it had maintained a stable credit rating, with net debt largely unchanged at €4.1bn.

It also emphasized its focus on sustainability, earning an ‘A’ rating from the Carbon Disclosure Project while continuing investments in fuel-efficient aircraft.

Looking ahead, the company said it was aiming to accelerate profitable growth and reduce net leverage, reinforcing its competitive position in the global travel market.

At 1518 CET, shares in TUI were down 9.68% at €7.69.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.

Compare our accounts

If you're looking to grow your money over the longer term (5+ years), we have a range of investment choices to help.

Halifax is not responsible for the content and accuracy of the Markets News articles. We may not share the views of the author. Understand the risks, please remember the value of your investment can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invest. We don't provide advice so if you are in any doubt about buying and selling shares or making your own investment decisions we recommend you seek advice from a suitably qualified Financial Advisor. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.