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| Thomas Cook boss 'deeply sorry' about Corfu deaths | Thomas Cook boss 'deeply sorry' about Corfu deaths |
| (36 minutes later) | |
| Thomas Cook's chief executive has said that he is "deeply sorry" about the deaths of two children in Corfu. | Thomas Cook's chief executive has said that he is "deeply sorry" about the deaths of two children in Corfu. |
| In 2006, Bobby and Christi Shepherd were poisoned by a faulty gas boiler during a Thomas Cook holiday. | In 2006, Bobby and Christi Shepherd were poisoned by a faulty gas boiler during a Thomas Cook holiday. |
| Speaking to BBC business editor Kamal Ahmed, Peter Fankhauser said that he regretted saying that Thomas Cook had done "nothing wrong" when giving evidence at the Coroner's Court. | Speaking to BBC business editor Kamal Ahmed, Peter Fankhauser said that he regretted saying that Thomas Cook had done "nothing wrong" when giving evidence at the Coroner's Court. |
| "My words were poorly chosen and I regret that," said Mr Fankhauser. | "My words were poorly chosen and I regret that," said Mr Fankhauser. |
| "We did not handle our relationship with the family well. During the past nine years, we failed to show the compassion that we should have shown to the family," he said. | |
| "I don't want to blame the lawyers. It's ultimately my responsibility how we communicate," said Mr Fankhauser. "Obviously we could have done better." | |
| Speaking at a presentation of the company's financial results, Mr Fankhauser said that Thomas Cook intended to communicate with the family directly, as opposed to through the media. | |
| Losses narrowed | Losses narrowed |
| His comments came as the travel company reported its results for the six months to the end of March. | His comments came as the travel company reported its results for the six months to the end of March. |
| Thomas Cook said it had narrowed its losses and expected to hit its profit target for 2015, in spite of threats to boycott the company over the Corfu incident. | |
| The company reported a pre-tax loss of £303m in the six months to the end of March, compared with a £366m loss a year earlier. | |
| "We expect that these continuing improvements will lead to further growth in [2015], consistent with our expectations at the full year results last November," said Mr Fankhauser in a statement. | "We expect that these continuing improvements will lead to further growth in [2015], consistent with our expectations at the full year results last November," said Mr Fankhauser in a statement. |
| Thomas Cook said that its UK business had performed well, while its German tour operating business "continues to experience tough trading conditions". | Thomas Cook said that its UK business had performed well, while its German tour operating business "continues to experience tough trading conditions". |
| "Our summer 2015 holiday bookings across the group are encouraging, especially for our important fourth quarter, which is offsetting some weakness in the third quarter," said the company. | "Our summer 2015 holiday bookings across the group are encouraging, especially for our important fourth quarter, which is offsetting some weakness in the third quarter," said the company. |
| The company may resume paying dividends in 2016, it said. | The company may resume paying dividends in 2016, it said. |