Quote:
Originally Posted by robh
I already answered your question .... but just so you can't accuse me of avoiding the question I will answer it again.
1. I talked to a contact at their head office, and they said they were still flying this year.
2. Every year I notice that Natal disappears from the thomson website, then a few months before they start flying again it is put back on the site.
3. I don't know why they do it like this, but they have for the last few years.
All you have to do now GW is wait to see if I am right or not.....
|
The explanation I recieved from Head Office (via a close relation of a Director) which was confirmed by local Thomson staff to me was primarily one of economics. They cannot bridge the demand gap at this time that would take them to at least two flights a week and dramatically cut down overheads. Paying for a full crew to lounge about for a whole week on full pay means the destination struggles to break even.
Thomson's are also disappointed that the Brazilian tourist industry are not doing more to promote this region in Europe and it was felt that a strategic withdrawl might prompt some action in this respect.
Local staff have been told that 'we will probably be back' but have now completed a complete shut down of the local offices and infrastructure. If they were intending to return as early as October / November I think it unlikely that they would have done this.
Of course the holiday industry can change on a weekly basis but my guess is Nov 2009 at the earliest.
K