Major Travel has cut some jobs as part of a review to trim staff costs by a fifth.
Employees at the trade-only operator, which is majority owned by InteleTravel, were advised two weeks ago that the business needed to reduce staffing costs by 20% and a consultation process had begun.
In email correspondence seen by Travel Gossip, staff were told that if savings couldn’t be achieved in other ways, up to two roles each could be cut in the company’s reservations and product departments, up to one each in ticketing and commercial and up to two ‘other roles’.
Major Travel said it would consider other options, including employees volunteering to reduce hours, taking a salary reduction or voluntary redundancy.
The company said it would also consider ‘other practical suggestions that would reduce staffing costs and help avoid compulsory redundancies’.
It’s understood the cuts only apply to staff in the UK.
The email continued: “If sufficient savings can be achieved through these or other measures, the final position may be different from the starting proposal set out above. This could mean fewer redundancies, or potentially no redundancies at all, if the necessary cost savings are delivered through other changes identified during consultation.
“Employees who are provisionally placed at risk have or will receive individual letters and will be invited to consultation meetings.”
It added: “The company appreciates that this is an unsettling process and is committed to handling it as openly and fairly as possible.”
It’s understood that at least three roles have gone since the consultation process began.
In May 2024, InteleTravel acquired a 60% stake in Major Travel. At the time, the operator sought to reassure the trade that all agents selling its products would benefit from the deal, with plans to expand into new markets and increase its choice of product.
In March last year, Major Travel announced plans to move its Cape Town call centre to larger premises, with the aim of growing the team from 20 to 50 within a year.
Major Travel has not responded to requests for a comment.
