Thomas Cook Regulatory News (TCG)

26 September 2013

Thomas Cook Group plc

PRE-CLOSE TRADING UPDATE

FULL YEAR 2013 RESULTS EXPECTED TO BE IN LINE WITH MARKET EXPECTATIONS

"Summer 2013 trading is as we anticipated when we announced our Q3 2013 Interim Management Statement, with last year's very strong lates market returning to more normal levels as expected.

In terms of winter holidays, we are at an early stage in the booking cycle. While we expect geopolitical events may impact destination choice, we are, following the improved integration of our business lines, offering customers a wider range of new routes and attractive vacations which we believe will provide a sound basis for continued performance into the new financial year. This combined with the continued delivery of our new product range and our cost out and profit improvement plan, give us confidence of achieving our targets and successfully implementing our strategy for profitable growth.

We look forward to reporting further progress at our FY13 results announcement on 28 November 2013."

Harriet Green, Group Chief Executive

Current trading

Our summer trading continues to be in line with expectations and is now over 95% sold. In recent weeks, as anticipated at the time of our Q3 Interim Management Statement in August, bookings on a year on year basis have slowed compared to last year's strong lates market. On a cumulative basis across the Group as a whole, bookings have outperformed our planned capacity management by over 4%. Average selling prices are up in each reported segment.

UK capacity is now over 97% sold and is broadly in line with expectations. UK bookings are down 3% on last year with a capacity reduction of 2.5%. With a year on year increase in average sales prices of over 4.5%, we anticipate that the UK will match our expectations.

In Continental Europe bookings are flat year on year despite capacity reductions of approximately 10%, with average sales prices increasing by 1%. Capacity left to sell is 15% lower year on year, giving confidence that pricing levels can be maintained through to the end of the season.

In Northern Europe bookings are 1% below last year but with growth in average selling price of approximately 4%.

Airlines Germany is closing the year strongly with bookings and average selling prices both up around 3% on last year.

In terms of winter trading, we are at an early stage in the booking cycle. Not unexpectedly, given geopolitical events and warm weather across Europe, winter trading has started more slowly than last year across most markets. However, we continue to pursue an active capacity management strategy, matching committed capacity to demand and, as a consequence, it is encouraging to note that average selling prices are up strongly in all markets.

Improved integration of our business lines, that enables us to offer customers a wider range of routes and vacations, combined with the continued delivery of our new product range and cost out and profit improvement plan, give us confidence of achieving our targets and successfully implementing our strategy for profitable growth.

Our results for the year ended 30 September 2013 will be announced on Thursday 28 November 2013.

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