Travel operator is in cruise control

When Fritz Joussen, Tui’s chief executive, announced he was scrapping the Thomson Holidays brand and replacing it with the smiley face of the Tui “master brand” three years ago, there was consternation that he should dispense with a name that for 50 years had been dispensing sun, sea and sangria to British holidaymakers.

Not that we Brits were the only ones to lose long-established holiday brands. Since October last year, all the company’s main European tour operator brands now carry the Tui name, so whether you are in the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Sweden or in UK and Ireland, the chances are you’ll be booking a Tui-branded package.

Announcing half-year results yesterday, the Tui boss clearly felt vindicated as he declared: “The Thomson business is now…