Thomas Cook booking numbers fall

Ailing tour operator Thomas Cookhas reportedly suffered a huge slump in summer bookings made during the first two weeks of January compared to the same period last year.

A reported decline of nearly 33 per cent is more than double the industry average and nearly three times worse than the 11 per cent fall experienced by Thomson Holidays owner TUI Travel.

It is thought Thomas Cook's financial woes are deterring way holidaymakers. The travel giant came close to collapse in November after dire trading forced it to turn to its banks for more financial help, prompting fears it was on the brink of collapse.

Some analysts have attributed the recent weak performance, which saw a 45% drop in online sales, to the damage the cash crisis caused to the company's reputation, as well as ongoing problems of low consumer confidence.