Ebookers is flying high

ONLINE travel agent ebookers today boasted of a healthy autumn pick-up in long-haul travel, saying that crucial long-distance sales between October and December beat City forecasts.

'After a rather disappointing 2003 in long-haul due to Sars, Iraq and the hot summer, we've been pleased to see this improvement come through,' said finance director Nigel Addison-Smith.

Ebookers' shares have raced ahead recently. With today's 12p gain to 502p, they have risen more than 100p in less than three weeks.

Meanwhile, rival lastminute.com has hired Thomas Cook development manager Richard Bowden-Doyle as managing director to replace Martha Lane Fox.