MyTravel Group
MyTravel Group (formerly Airtours) was a British international travel company that operated package-holiday businesses, tour operators, and in-house charter airlines before merging with Thomas Cook AG in 2007.
Last updated October 30, 2026
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Overview
MyTravel Group was a British travel conglomerate whose origins lay in the Airtours business established in 1972 by David Crossland. Crossland built the company by acquiring small travel agencies in Lancashire and developing them into a package-holiday operation. The business expanded beyond retail travel agencies by controlling important parts of the holiday supply chain, including tour operators and charter airlines. A major step in this strategy came in late 1990, when the group launched Airtours International Ltd., its own in-house charter airline. The airline began operating charter services to the Caribbean in 1991, with the group promoting flights as part of an affordable package-holiday proposition. Vertical integration allowed Airtours to coordinate aircraft capacity, accommodation, destinations, and holiday sales more closely than a purely retail travel agency could. The group expanded through acquisitions during the 1990s. In 1993 it purchased Aspro Holidays and its associated airline, Inter European Airways. The acquired aircraft were incorporated into Airtours International and repainted in the group’s livery. Airtours then entered Scandinavian markets through the 1994 acquisition of Scandinavian Leisure Group and strengthened its position in Denmark through the 1996 purchase of Simon Spies Holding. These transactions helped transform Airtours from a primarily British package-tour operator into a broader international travel group. In 2002, Airtours Group plc adopted the MyTravel Group plc name as a company-wide rebranding. The change also affected the group’s airline identities: Airtours International and Premiair were renamed MyTravel Airways in February of that year. The MyTravel identity was used across the group’s travel and aviation operations, while regional businesses and tour operators continued to serve different national markets. The group later adjusted its portfolio. In November 2003, it sold its North America Cruise Division to National Leisure Group, a company based in Woburn, Massachusetts. This represented a move away from that part of the cruise business while the wider group continued to focus on package holidays, tour operations, and airline-supported leisure travel. On 12 February 2007, MyTravel Group announced an agreement to merge with Thomas Cook AG. The transaction created Thomas Cook Group plc, combining two major European travel businesses. MyTravel’s airline operations were subsequently integrated into the Thomas Cook airline structure in March 2008. MyTravel therefore ceased to operate as an independent corporate group, although elements of its airline and tour-operator heritage continued within Thomas Cook. Thomas Cook Group later entered compulsory liquidation on 23 September 2019; that later event concerned the successor group rather than a separate revival of MyTravel Group. Airtours was a British travel and package-holiday brand that grew from a small network of Lancashire travel agencies into an international leisure-tourism group. David Crossland established the business in 1972 after acquiring several independent agencies. Its early model combined travel retailing with the sale and organization of package holidays, allowing the group to control more of the customer journey than a conventional agency. Over time, Airtours expanded from arranging holidays into operating aviation and tourism assets directly. A major step in that strategy came in late 1990, when the group launched Airtours International Ltd., its own in-house charter airline. The airline began flying package-holiday customers from the United Kingdom to destinations including the Caribbean, with the first Caribbean charter flights operating in 1991. Vertical integration gave Airtours greater control over aircraft capacity, schedules, destination access, and holiday pricing, while also making the group more exposed to the capital and operational demands of aviation. The company expanded through acquisitions during the 1990s. In 1993 it acquired Aspro Holidays and the associated airline Inter European Airways; the aircraft were subsequently incorporated into Airtours International and repainted in Airtours branding. In 1994 Airtours purchased Scandinavian Leisure Group, extending its presence in Nordic leisure travel. In 1996 it acquired Simon Spies Holding, a Danish competitor, further strengthening its Scandinavian activities and broadening its European tour-operating footprint. Airtours therefore became more than a British airline or travel agency. Its activities included package-tour operations, travel distribution, charter aviation, cruise-related businesses, and international leisure brands. The group operated or controlled travel businesses in multiple markets and maintained in-house airline operations in the United Kingdom and Scandinavia. Its commercial positioning centered on integrated, mass-market leisure travel: selling holidays at accessible prices while coordinating transport, accommodation, and destination services. In 2002, the corporate group changed its name from Airtours Group plc to MyTravel Group plc. The rebrand was intended to create a single international identity across the group’s businesses. Airtours International and Premiair were renamed MyTravel Airways in February of that year, although Airtours remained an important legacy brand in the company’s history and in parts of its travel portfolio. In November 2003, MyTravel sold its North America Cruise Division to National Leisure Group, reflecting a shift in the composition of the wider business. On 12 February 2007, MyTravel Group announced an agreed merger with Thomas Cook AG. The transaction created Thomas Cook Group plc, and the airline operations were subsequently consolidated into Thomas Cook Airlines in March 2008. This ended Airtours’ independent identity as the principal corporate banner for the business. Thomas Cook Group later entered compulsory liquidation on 23 September 2019, although that later failure occurred under the Thomas Cook name rather than during Airtours’ period as an independent group. Airtours is therefore best understood as a defunct British integrated leisure-travel brand and corporate predecessor to MyTravel and, ultimately, part of the history of Thomas Cook Group.
History
MyTravel Group developed from Airtours, a British travel business founded in 1972 by David Crossland. Crossland began by acquiring a number of small travel agencies in Lancashire. The company’s early model centered on selling package holidays, bringing together travel retail, transportation, and holiday arrangements for consumers. The business expanded its control over holiday transportation in late 1990 with the creation of Airtours International Ltd., an in-house charter airline. The airline made its first charter flights to the Caribbean in 1991, offering flights at a reported introductory price of £299. Establishing dedicated airline capacity supported Airtours’ package-holiday model and reduced its reliance on external aviation providers. Airtours pursued further expansion through acquisitions. In 1993 it acquired Aspro Holidays and Inter European Airways, the latter being an in-house airline associated with Aspro. The aircraft were merged into Airtours International and given the Airtours livery. In 1994, the group acquired Scandinavian Leisure Group, extending its presence in Scandinavian leisure travel. In 1996 it purchased Simon Spies Holding, a Danish competitor, adding another significant Scandinavian travel business to its portfolio. The company adopted a new corporate identity in 2002. Airtours Group plc was renamed MyTravel Group plc, and the rebranding extended to key airline operations. Airtours International and Premiair were renamed MyTravel Airways in February 2002. The new name presented the group as an international travel organization rather than solely as the Airtours brand, while its businesses continued to operate across tour operations and airline services. MyTravel subsequently reorganized parts of its portfolio. In November 2003, it sold the North America Cruise Division to National Leisure Group of Woburn, Massachusetts. The disposal reduced the group’s direct involvement in that cruise division while leaving its central package-holiday and airline activities intact. The group’s independent existence ended through a major industry combination. On 12 February 2007, MyTravel Group announced that it had agreed terms to merge with Thomas Cook AG. The combined business became Thomas Cook Group plc. MyTravel’s airline operations were later absorbed into Thomas Cook Airlines in March 2008, completing an important stage of operational integration. MyTravel Group is therefore best understood as a predecessor travel group whose principal legacy was incorporated into Thomas Cook. Thomas Cook Group eventually entered compulsory liquidation on 23 September 2019. That insolvency occurred more than a decade after the MyTravel merger and should not be treated as a separate MyTravel corporate event. Airtours originated in 1972 when David Crossland acquired a group of small travel agencies in Lancashire. The business initially focused on selling and organizing package holidays, but it progressively adopted an integrated leisure-travel model in which the same corporate group could distribute holidays, arrange tourism services, and provide air transport. In late 1990 Airtours created Airtours International Ltd., an in-house charter airline. The carrier began operating package-holiday flights, including services to the Caribbean from 1991. This expansion enabled Airtours to coordinate aircraft capacity and holiday inventory more closely than an agency dependent on external airlines. It also marked the transformation of Airtours from a primarily British travel business into a broader travel group with significant aviation exposure. The group pursued acquisitions to expand its destinations and customer base. In 1993 it bought Aspro Holidays and its associated airline, Inter European Airways. The acquired aircraft were absorbed into Airtours International and received Airtours livery. In 1994 Airtours purchased Scandinavian Leisure Group, adding further Nordic operations. In 1996 it acquired Simon Spies Holding, a Danish rival, consolidating its position in Scandinavian leisure travel. By the 1990s, Airtours’ activities extended beyond package holidays and travel agencies. The group had tour operators and airline businesses in several markets, including two in-house airlines identified in later descriptions of the group as MyTravel Airways UK and MyTravel Airways Scandinavia. It also had cruise-related interests and other international leisure operations. Its competitive proposition was based on scale, vertical integration, and accessible mass-market holiday products. The corporate identity changed in 2002, when Airtours Group plc became MyTravel Group plc. The rebranding placed the group’s businesses under a common international banner. Airtours International and Premiair were renamed MyTravel Airways in February of that year. The change reduced Airtours’ role as the group-wide corporate name, although the brand remained a significant historical marker for the business and its package-holiday heritage. In November 2003, MyTravel sold its North America Cruise Division to National Leisure Group. The divestment illustrated the group’s ongoing portfolio management as it adjusted the balance between travel, aviation, and cruise activities. On 12 February 2007, MyTravel announced agreed terms for a merger with Thomas Cook AG. The transaction formed Thomas Cook Group plc, bringing the former Airtours businesses into one of Europe’s largest leisure-travel groups. The airline operations were consolidated into Thomas Cook Airlines in March 2008. Airtours consequently ceased to operate as the principal independent corporate identity. Its development nevertheless helped establish the integrated package-holiday and charter-airline model that characterized large British and European tour operators during the late twentieth century. The later Thomas Cook Group entered compulsory liquidation on 23 September 2019. That liquidation occurred long after the Airtours-to-MyTravel rebranding and merger, but it represents the eventual failure of the principal corporate successor to the Airtours business.
- 2019
Thomas Cook Group enters liquidation
[1]The principal later corporate successor to the Airtours and MyTravel businesses entered compulsory liquidation.
- 2008
Airline operations integrated into Thomas Cook Airlines
[1]The former MyTravel airline operations are consolidated into Thomas Cook Airlines.
- 2007
Merger with Thomas Cook AG announced
[1]MyTravel announced an agreement to merge with Thomas Cook AG, creating Thomas Cook Group plc.
- 2003
North America Cruise Division is sold
[1]MyTravel sells its North America Cruise Division to National Leisure Group.
- 2002
Airtours Group becomes MyTravel Group
[1]Airtours Group plc adopted the MyTravel Group plc name, while Airtours International and Premiair were renamed MyTravel Airways.
- 2002
Corporate rebrand to MyTravel
[1]Airtours Group plc changes its corporate name to MyTravel Group plc, and Airtours International becomes MyTravel Airways.
- 1996
Acquisition of Simon Spies Holding
[1]Airtours purchases the Danish travel competitor Simon Spies Holding.
- 1994
Acquisition of Scandinavian Leisure Group
[1]Airtours expanded its Scandinavian presence through the acquisition of Scandinavian Leisure Group. The purchase expands Airtours’ Nordic leisure-tourism activities.
- 1993
Acquisition of Aspro Holidays and Inter European Airways
[1]Airtours acquired Aspro Holidays and its associated airline, Inter European Airways, whose aircraft were incorporated into Airtours International.
- 1991
First Airtours Caribbean charter flights
[1]Airtours operated its first charter flights to the Caribbean, supporting its package-holiday model. Airtours begins charter services to the Caribbean as part of its integrated holiday offering.
Products and positioning
An integrated leisure-travel group combining tour operators, holiday distribution, and in-house charter aviation, with a focus on mass-market package holidays and international holiday destinations.
Package holidays · 1972
Airtours package holidays
Airtours’ core offering combined holiday accommodation, transportation, and travel-agency distribution. The business began with travel agencies in Lancashire and expanded into an international package-holiday group. Its ownership of tour operators and charter-airline capacity enabled it to coordinate holiday inventory and flights within an integrated leisure-travel model targeting mainstream holidaymakers. Airtours’ core offering combined transport, accommodation, and destination arrangements into packaged leisure trips. The model targeted mainstream holidaymakers and relied on the group’s travel-agency network, tour operators, and later in-house airlines to coordinate availability and pricing.
Charter airline · 2002
MyTravel Airways
MyTravel Airways was the rebranded airline operation created from Airtours International and Premiair in 2002. It provided charter aviation for the group’s holiday programs and operated within the wider MyTravel travel system. After the merger with Thomas Cook AG, the airline operations were integrated into Thomas Cook Airlines.
Tour operations
Tour-operator businesses
MyTravel Group included tour operators in multiple markets, including businesses obtained through acquisitions such as Aspro Holidays, Scandinavian Leisure Group, and Simon Spies Holding. These operations supported the group’s international package-holiday network and connected local travel brands with centrally managed airline and holiday capacity.
Cruise travel
North America Cruise Division
The North America Cruise Division represented MyTravel’s cruise-related business in North America. It was not retained indefinitely: MyTravel sold the division to National Leisure Group in November 2003 as part of a portfolio adjustment.
Charter airline · 1990
Airtours International
Airtours International Ltd. was the group’s in-house charter airline, established in late 1990. It operated flights supporting Airtours package holidays, including Caribbean services from 1991. Aircraft acquired through Inter European Airways were later integrated into the airline and repainted in Airtours branding.
Travel distribution · 1972
Airtours travel-agency network
The business began with a collection of small Lancashire travel agencies and used travel retailing as the distribution foundation for its holiday operations. This agency base helped Airtours sell package holidays directly to consumers before the group expanded into aviation and international tourism businesses.
Cruise and leisure travel
Cruise travel operations
The wider Airtours and MyTravel group developed cruise-related activities as part of its broader leisure portfolio. The North America Cruise Division was later sold by MyTravel to National Leisure Group in 2003, so this line was no longer part of the group’s retained portfolio after the divestment.
Brand decisions
2007
Merger with Thomas Cook AGM&ABackground
MyTravel Group and Thomas Cook AG were both major European travel businesses operating in a consolidating leisure-travel sector.
Action taken
MyTravel agreed terms for a merger with Thomas Cook AG, creating Thomas Cook Group plc.
Aftermath
The transaction created Thomas Cook Group plc, and the former MyTravel airline operations were later consolidated into Thomas Cook Airlines.
2003
Sale of the North America Cruise DivisionStrategyBackground
MyTravel reviewed its portfolio of leisure-travel activities after operating across package holidays, airlines, tour operations, and cruise-related services. MyTravel reviewed the composition of the leisure businesses inherited from the Airtours group.
Action taken
The group sold its North America Cruise Division to National Leisure Group.
Aftermath
The division left MyTravel’s portfolio, allowing the group to concentrate on its principal travel and airline operations. MyTravel reduced its direct exposure to that cruise business while retaining its principal travel and airline activities.
2002
Corporate rebranding from Airtours to MyTravelStrategyBackground
Airtours Group plc had developed from a British package-holiday business into a broader international travel group with tour operators and airline operations.
Action taken
The company adopted the MyTravel Group plc name, and Airtours International and Premiair were renamed MyTravel Airways.
Aftermath
The MyTravel identity became the group-wide corporate banner until the business was combined with Thomas Cook AG in 2007.
2002
Rebranding as MyTravel GroupStrategyBackground
The Airtours group had expanded into multiple countries and leisure businesses, making a unified international identity strategically useful.
Action taken
Airtours Group plc changed its name to MyTravel Group plc, while Airtours International and Premiair were renamed MyTravel Airways.
Aftermath
Airtours ceased to be the group-wide corporate banner and became part of the company’s legacy brand architecture.
1990
Establishment of Airtours InternationalProduct launchBackground
Airtours was expanding beyond agency-based holiday sales and sought greater control over the transport component of its package holidays.
Action taken
The group launched Airtours International Ltd. as an in-house charter airline.
Aftermath
The airline supported Airtours’ package-holiday growth and later absorbed the aviation assets of Inter European Airways.
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