Triton-backed Sunweb deal for Airtours takes flight

• Sunweb Group is a digital holiday retailer and one of Europe’s largest tour operators, according to Triton
• Airtours is a travel operator that specialises in weekend trips and sun holiday charter packages
• Sunweb was acquired by Triton fund V in 2019

Triton-backed Sunweb Group has announced it has acquired travel operator Airtours. Sunweb is a digital holiday retailer headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, and is one of Europe’s largest tour operators, according to Triton. The acquisition of Airtours complements Sunweb’s business in Denmark and establishes a footprint in Sweden.

Airtours was founded in 1998 and specialises in weekend trips and sun holiday charter packages. It is the largest Swedish-owned travel operator with approximately 100,000 travellers annually according to Triton. The company is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden.

“In 2022, we have been leveraging all the hard work done during the two pandemic years, resulting in the best financial results in our history, increased market shares in our home markets, the introduction of cruises and the launch of Eliza was here in UK and Sunweb in Sweden, following a successful launch in Denmark in 2021,” said Mattijs ten Brink, CEO at Sunweb Group. “In 2023 we continue building on our improved market position and maintaining our growth. For Scandinavia, we now take an important step towards l becoming one of the largest players in the market.”

Triton Partners is a London-headquartered private equity firm, has a portfolio of 49 companies. It invests across strategies in the industrial tech, services, consumer and healthcare sectors. The deal is the second announced by Triton this week following on from its deal to invest in Turck Holding.