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		</div><p><a href="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/travel-firms-press-for-early-ruling.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full" title="Thomas Cook and the Co-op are looking for a fast-track probe into the merger of their high street and travel stores" src="http://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/min-travel-firms-press-for-early-ruling.jpg" alt="Thomas Cook and the Co-op are looking for a fast-track probe into the merger of their high street and travel stores"/></a></p>
<p>Thomas Cook and the Co-op have called on competition authorities to fast-track an investigation into the merger of their high street travel stores.</p>
<p>The pair want the Competition Commission to review the case straight away, rather than wait another three weeks for the matter to be referred, as expected, by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).</p>
<p>The OFT has already told the companies that it believes the tie-up significantly threatens competition in the supply of package holidays sold through retail travel agencies in the UK.</p>
<p>With more than 1,300 shops, the newly formed company would be the UK&#8217;s largest travel agent and second biggest in foreign exchange.</p>
<p>The Competition Commission will have up to six months to make a decision.</p>
<p>Thomas Cook chief executive Manny Fontenla-Novoa said: &#8220;We continue to believe that there is compelling rationale for clearance particularly when you consider previous decisions in our sector.</p>
<p>&#8220;We feel that proceeding straight to the Competition Commission should provide us with the right answer most quickly.&#8221;</p>
<p>In October, Thomas Cook, the Co-op and Midlands Co-op announced plans to merge their high street travel businesses in a move expected to cost hundreds of UK jobs.</p>
<p>If given the go-ahead, Thomas Cook and Co-operative Travel stores would continue to operate under their own brands, but Thomas Cook&#8217;s Going Places shops will be rebranded as Co-operative Travel.</p>
<p>Thomas Cook, which would own 66.5% of the new company, is seeing pressure on demand for overseas holidays as cash-strapped Britons opt to stay at home.</p>
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