TUI Reports Strong Q1 Profit Amid Slight Dip in Forward Bookings

TUI's Financial Performance and Market Trends

By Joanna Plucinska and Cian Muenster

Operating Profit Overview

Feb 10 (Reuters) - TUI, Europe's largest travel operator by market share, on Tuesday reported an operating profit above expectations for its first quarter, noting a trend towards last-minute bookings and higher prices.

Concerns Over Forward Bookings

The company has struggled with weakness in its core German market but bolstered its results by focusing on making its offer more international and emphasising its more profitable businesses, including hotels. 

Market Strategy and Future Outlook

Citing a strong performance in holiday experiences and in markets and airlines, TUI reported an operating profit of 77.1 million euros ($91.80 million) in the final three months of 2025, it's first quarter, up from 51 million euros a year earlier and higher than the 66.7 million euros forecast by analysts polled by LSEG, 

"First quarter results meet our expectations and clearly demonstrate that we are achieving sustainable growth with our strategy," Chief Executive Sebastian Ebel said in a statement. 

Still, analysts pointed to slightly weaker winter and summer forward bookings as a point of concern, which the airline said was expected. 

The first three months of the year are usually the weakest for airlines due to a slowdown in travel bookings at the start of the year. 

TUI reconfirmed its December guidance that revenue will likely increase by 2%-4% and underlying operating profit will rise by 7%-10%, meaning it will not sustain growth from 2025 as markets had assumed.

($1 = 0.8398 euros)

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(Reporting by Cian Muenster and Joanna Plucinska, editing by Linda Pasquini, Kirsten Donovan)