Holiday Autos, Monarch Airlines and the Monarch Travel Group* have announced a major exclusive three-year deal which will see the car hire firm provide in excess of 50,000 rentals to customers of Monarch Scheduled, Avro, Pullman, Cosmosair and Cosmos Tourama in addition to customers of the Group's accommodation only website, www.somewhere2stay.com .

UK & Ireland Managing Director Mathew Hart said: “We are delighted to be working with one of the UK's leading air carriers and the largest independent tour operating group. This is an important business win for Holiday Autos and we look forward to developing a partnership with the Monarch Travel Group tour operating businesses and Monarch Airlines. Together we are committed to significantly growing the Group's car rental business over the next three years.”

He added: “Their customers are guaranteed high standards of service coupled with the best possible prices on world-wide car hire with holiday autos. Car rental is becoming increasingly popular as part of both the package and seat-only markets and we are delighted to be able to provide them with the best prices, service and vehicle range to support their programmes.”

Hugh Morgan, Cosmos Overseas Purchasing and Operations Director, commented: “Our contract was up for renewal with our existing supplier and Holiday Autos provided the best business proposition to provide car rental to all sectors of our Group, in particular the seat only brands, Cosmos Villas with Pools programme and fast-growing accommodation only business, somewhere2stay.com.”

Commented Jonathan Crick, Commercial Director, Monarch Scheduled: “Holiday Autos has put in a lot of hard work and enthusiasm into pulling this deal together. Together we are committed to implementing a range of marketing initiatives which will help to increase sales via the travel trade.”

Added Andrew Nicholson, Avro Managing Director: “We believe Avro and Holiday Autos have a synergy of product and customer base and we are confident they will provide valuable support to us as well as to our key agents and customers.”

Holiday Autos' sector-leading web technology will form an integral part of the partnership. From today, Monday December 1, Holiday Autos rentals can be booked via the websites www.cosmos-holidays.co.uk , www.cosmostourama.co.uk, www.flymonarch.com , www.avro.co.uk and www.somewhere2stay.com .

Holiday Autos is the world's leading leisure car rental broker offering rentals in 4,000 locations worldwide.

*The Monarch Travel Group comprises of tour operators Cosmos, Avro and Pullman.

For media information contact Claire Williams at Holiday Autos
Tel: 01276 413929 or email clairewilliams@holidayautos.co.uk

Notes to Editors

Holiday Autos is the world's largest leisure car rental broker. Founded in 1987, the innovative company revolutionised the car rental industry by introducing fully inclusive rental prices, and, a few years later, was among the first to embrace e-commerce by developing the website as a key distribution channel. Today more than 40% of business is transacted on-line.

The Holiday Autos Group operates through a mix of corporate offices, joint ventures and sales agents in 40 countries worldwide. In 2002 the group turnover was £154million.

In March 2003 Holiday Autos was bought by lastminute.com for £40 million. Company founder Clive Jacobs retains the position of chief executive and has joined the board of lastminute.com as vice chairman.