Thomas Cook sets May 7 deadline for interest in airline business: Sources

Thomas Cook has set a deadline of May 7 for expressions of interest in its airline business, with Indigo Partners and Lufthansa among the likely bidders, sources said. The heavily-indebted British travel group put its profitable airline business up for sale in February after profit warnings in 2018 left it needing to raise cash. Thomas Cook's airlines business consists of Germany's Condor, as well as British, Scandinavian and Spanish operations. A sale of the business, in whole or in part, would enable the world's oldest tour operator to invest more in its own hotels and improve its online sales. A source familiar with the discussions said that Indigo and Germany's Lufthansa appeared most interested in the business. British Airways owner IAG should not be ruled out and easyJet has engaged in talks but is seen as less interested, the source added. The airlines business would provide access to valuable European slots linking Britain to Spain, Greece and Turkey.<br/>