Thanks to a new partnership with Ryanair, TUI customers will be able to choose from an even wider range of flights when booking their trip. All Ryanair flights will soon be able to be booked directly with TUI, offering building blocks for package tours and individual trips.
On Thursday (February 15, 2024), TUI Group announced the launch of a new partnership with Ryanair that will offer customers the ability to book all Ryanair flights, over one million annually, directly with TUI. Complementing TUI’s extensive range of flights, the additional Ryanair flights will serve as building blocks for package tours, or individual trips, such as a weekend getaway, and can be combined with the travel company’s full offering. The added flights can also be integrated into package tours, when booking at travel agencies or online.
With the relaunch of the First Choice brand in the UK last September, the added flights will make it much more attractive to the younger generation of travelers. First Choice’s proposition offers a range of trips from 5-star resorts and hotels, to hostels, premium and low-cost airlines, along with interesting and unique experiences.
In Thursday’s announcement, TUI Group’s Chief Strategy Officer & CEO Holiday Experiences, Peter Krüger, said,
“The new agreement follows the Group's strategy of greater digitalisation of the business segments. In the past financial year, the number of dynamically packaged trips at TUI already grew to over 2.5 million. The cooperation with Ryanair will now further expand the range of dynamically packaged TUI holidays and at the same time achieve a further milestone in digitalization. In addition, the cooperation also contributes to our growth strategy – the aim is to achieve additional growth through more products and new guests.”
Also commenting on the new Ryanair partnership, TUI Group’s CEO – Markets & Airlines, David Schelp, said,
“We are consistently implementing our transformation into a year-round provider of travel and experiences. More hotels, more flight connections, more excursions and activities while traveling and at home – we are creating even more choice for our guests. The strategy for our tour operators is clear: we want to continue to grow profitably – with our own exclusive brands and products as well as with an even broader and more individualised offering. The agreement we have now reached will create more travel options for our guests than ever before. In the UK in particular, our guests will be able to choose from an even wider range of flights in future – and in addition to a strong program with TUI Airline's own flights.”
Ryanair’s Director – Marketing and Digital, Dara Brady, added,
“We are pleased to announce this partnership with TUI, which will enable TUI customers to now book Ryanair flights, seats, and bags as part of their holiday package with the guarantee that they will have full price transparency of Ryanair products, and that they will receive any information regarding their flight directly from Ryanair as well as having direct access to their booking through their myRyanair account. This deal separates TUI from the OTA Pirates who continue to dupe and scam consumers by unlawfully screenscraping Ryanair’s website and mis-selling our flights with egregious hidden mark-ups and overcharges.”
In the coming weeks, the option of booking Ryanair flights as part of TUI holidays will be gradually introduced, and will cover all routes relative to tourism. Flights can also be combined with TUI’s hotel offers, both at travel agencies and online.
Source(s): TUI Group, Ryanair