Red Sea Holidays deputy managing director Jason Hilton is being made redundant as the business continues to battle tough trading conditions for Egypt.
Hilton, one of three ex-MyTravel bosses to set up the tour operator in 2009, is to leave the Egypt specialist after eight years in April. His job will be split between managing director Andy Grant and other staff in the business.
Hilton said the “difficult” trading climate for its core destination had forced the operator to look at ways to reduce costs.
Egypt accounts for more than half of Red Sea Holidays’ passenger volumes, but there is no indication as to when the current ban on flights from the UK to Sharm el-Sheikh will be lifted.
Hilton said: “In order for Red Sea Holidays to continue through this difficult climate we have made a decision to reduce overhead costs and consolidate roles where we can.
“Over the last 12 months there has been a number of the team who have moved on and have not been replaced; the business is very much smaller than it was two years ago.
“It’s just about scaling down until such a time flights are operating again. It’s a sensible and understandable step; these pressures are not just on us but on all businesses [operating to Egypt].
“Egypt will always be our core destination. What the business needs is for the flight ban to be lifted.”
Red Sea Holidays now has a team of eight. This compares with a team of more than 20 at its peak.
The operator expanded into Tunisia for summer 2015 but the destination went off sale within weeks following the massacre of 31 tourists in June. Greece and Turkey were added for summer 2016 and more recently Malta, Cyprus and the Balearics have been announced for summer 2017 as part of a strategy to offer a range of year-round destinations.
The operator is owned by major shareholders in hotel chain Red Sea Hotels.
Hilton’s original role with the company was sales director in 2009, but he was promoted to the role of joint MD in July 2014.
He added: “I am sad to go because I have been here eight years and I love the business. There is a fantastic team here and I wish them every success.”
Hilton said he would be looking for another role within the travel industry.