Travel Departures: Thomson brings in the new year

THOMSON this week launched a pre-emptive strike against its nearest competitor, Airtours, by publishing its summer 1994 brochures more than two weeks early. By a combination of lower prices and special offers for families with children, Thomson believes it can grab a bigger share of the important early-bookings market.

While Airtours has yet to launch its main summer '94 programme, it has commenced battle on the long-haul front by producing its Florida and Caribbean brochures. It is offering a major new programme to Cuba, a destination recently abandoned by Thomson. Using the two new 326-seater Boeing 767-300s that it will be acquiring next spring, Airtours will also operate summer flights to Florida, Jamaica, Antigua and Grand Cayman.

Airtours, which pioneered low-cost summer packages to Jamaica, Barbados and Antigua, is offering holidays to Cuba from pounds 299 for 14 nights. Not surprisingly, the brochure carefully picks its way around Cuba's present difficulties.

'Don't expect all the sophisticated amenities you find on many Caribbean Islands . . . President Castro continues in developing the socialist system . . . Please be aware there are shortages of certain items. It is not unusual to see locals queuing outside the shops in Havana. However, in the hotels there are no such shortages of items for holidaymakers,' it says.