TUI UK will furlough around 11,000 staff, including almost 4,500 retail agents. The company said 4,455 travel agency employees, roughly 99% of shop staff, will be sent home following the closure of its high-street network. The closure comes in response to the government lockdown to battle the coronavirus pandemic.
Andrew Flintham, managing director of TUI UK & Ireland said: “The travel industry is facing unprecedented pressure. We will continue to put the customer at the heart of what we do, and when they can holiday with us again, we want to be in the best position to deliver the wide range of destinations and experiences we do today.”
The remaining 6,545 furloughed staff are from cabin crew, pilots, and staff in retail and head office functions. It employs a total of 13,200 employees in the UK. The company added it was working through all available options, particularly paying staff through the government job retention scheme.
