Last-minute holiday bookings have increased as travellers delay decisions amid the ongoing conflict in Iran and sustained household cost pressures, Europe’s largest travel company said. Tui reported that the Middle East situation had cost the firm approximately €60m so far, and that customers are increasingly making travel choices closer to departure dates.
Tui said the pattern was visible in the weeks after the outbreak of fighting at the end of February, when the operator recorded a temporary drop-off in demand for trips to Cyprus and Turkey. The company described conditions as a “volatile market,” noting that destination preferences and booking timing had shifted in response to geopolitical uncertainty.
Shifts toward later bookings affect revenue visibility and operational planning for travel companies. Tui indicated that the altered booking curve complicates forecasting for seat inventory, accommodation contracts and pricing strategies, as sales concentrate nearer to departures rather than being spread across an extended advance period.
The firm cited the combined impact of the regional conflict and the cost-of-living squeeze on consumer behaviour, with both factors contributing to shorter booking windows. Tui said the changes have material financial effects and underlined that market volatility is likely to influence decisions by travellers and operators in the run-up to the main summer travel season.
