Friday 29 December 2017

Tour Operator Thomas Cook to Open New Spanish Airline

Tour Operator Thomas Cook to Open New Spanish Airline


Good news for Spain and traveling passengers 
UK-based Thomas Cook – the creator of many package holidays (and memories thereof) for Brits – recently announced that they are to set up a brand new Spanish airline to cope with the expected increase in flights to the country in 2018.

During a time where a number of cheap airlines are going bust – such as Air Berlin and Monarch – or are struggling with staffing problems – such as Ryanair – Thomas Cook is looking to take advantage of the uncertainty of the industry by entering what could be the most competitive, and potentially lucrative, aspect of the aviation industry; serving the country of Spain.

Spanish airports are some of the busiest in Europe, bringing in holidaymakers from around the world across the year, mostly thanks to the perennial popularity of the country as being one of the very best tourist destinations in the world.

This is why Thomas Cook are to base their newest airline in Palma de Majorca, and are to begin flights to and from the Balearic Island from early 2018. The fleet will start out as three Airbus A320 planes, flying with a Spanish operating license, but Thomas Cook has said that they are likely to increase their fleet to meet the demand they expect to see.

Chief Ariline Officer of Thomas Cook Christopher Debus released a statement saying that the new base and airline will provide them with the platform to manage the seasonal demand for their business better, giving them better control over things at a lower cost as they continue expanding their destination choices for customers.

As large a company as Thomas Cook is, even they typically make losses during the winter. This is why operating seasonal staff directly from Spain allows the company to respond better to the demand and maintain profits between November and March, which is generally the quiet times for the company and Spanish tourism as a whole. 
Operating out of Majorca allows the Thomas Cook Balearics Division to better loan planes to other group divisions, meaning that the firm should have a better looking balance sheet. Thomas Cook currently have 94 aircraft and deal with a total of 16.7 million passengers on an annual basis.

Thursday 28 December 2017

Great Prices and Supply Make Spain a Major Real Estate Investment Destination

Costa del Sol has such appeal and continues to be in demand 
Great Prices and Supply Make Spain a Major Real Estate Investment Destination

It’s all too easy to focus on the incredible lifestyle attractions that entice people looking for a second home or an overseas property to Spain.

The incredible climate of the country, not to mention the stunning cities, superb beaches (and beach resorts), and varied terrain make imagining your new life in Spain about as easy as achieving it. With all the cheap flights and property choices, it’s no wonder that thousands of Europeans have turned their dream Spanish homes into a reality.

The wealth of variety and the value-for-money of Spanish property mean the market has become a hotbed for more serious investors; the kind of people that want to put their money in a safe place and get sensible returns.

The UK was the chosen destination for career investors interested in parking their wealth in property investments for quite some. The uncertainty of the Brexit has begun to unravel the reputation the country has for being a stable safe haven however, and the property markets in Spain and Germany are starting to draw attention.

According to a Knight Frank poll of 148 of the leading real estate investors controlling over £300 billion of real estate assets, 20% of the surveyed investors view Spain as their preferred market for investment in 2018, second to Germany. Only 12% of investors said that the UK would be their property investment destination of choice in 2017, down from the 27% for this year.

The investors were mostly concerned about the lack of available stock and the unrealistic prices in the UK.

By contrast, Spain has a rising demand for home, officespace, retail, and leisure facilities that make the residential and commercial markets particularly strong. The prices are also a fair reflection of the market value of properties. Because of the resurgent Spanish economy there is sure to be an increased demand for industrial and office space as time passes, according to the investors.