Travel firm Thomas Cook said today that core profits in the third quarter fell year-on-year but that winter bookings were up and profit would grow in the rest of the year.
Thomas Cook, owned by Lufthansa and KarstadtQuelle, saidearnings before interest, taxes and amortisation (EBITA) came in at €118 million ($135 million) in the quarter ending July 31st, down from 190.7 million in the same period a year ago.
Sales slipped to €2.37 billion from 2.68 billion.The war in Iraq and deadly SARS virus hurt results, thecompany said, leading to a 9 per cent drop in the number ofcustomers taking Thomas Cook holidays in the quarter.
It said winter bookings were up 5.4 per cent over theprevious year, however, a rise after the end of the war in Iraq.