Macy's, National Express, Tui: Business news in brief on Wednesday May 11

National Express thrives despite dip after Brussels attacks; Tui plans to sell adventure holidays division; Macy's reports fifth fall in quarterly sales

National Express saw coach passenger number fall the Brussels attacks (Getty)

National Express thrives despite dip after Brussels attacks

National Express, the bus and train operator, said it saw a "notable" drop in coach passengers after the recent terrorist attacks in Brussels.

But despite weak demand throughout April, underlying coach revenues rose 4 per cent in the first four months of the year and passenger number rose by 6 per cent.

National Express said the strong first quarter numbers validated its decision to seek certain overseas contracts.

Tui plans to sell adventure holidays division

Holiday business Tui on Wednesday unveiled plans to slim down its operations by selling its adventure and education holiday brands.

Selling off Specialist Group, which generated revenues of €1.8 billion in 2015, fits with Tui’s broader strategy to dispose of non-core assets and focus on package holidays, according to the company.

Tui, the world’s biggest tourism group, will retain the Crystal Ski and Thomson Lakes & Mountains businesses out of a portfolio of 50 brands.The news comes after the company announced a €1.2 billion deal to sell its Hotelbeds Group last month.

Women lose fight against delay to state pension

Women who will be hit by a hike to the state pension age may not be offered any relief, the Work and Pensions Secretary suggested on Wednesday.

Hopes have been raised for the affected women, born between April 1951 and 1960, who have been taken by surprise by their state pension age being raised by up to six years from when they had expected to retire.The idea of a cost-neutral option for them to take their pensions earlier, at a reduced rate, had been suggestedas a possible solution.

But Stephen Crabb, the new Work and Pensions Secretary has told MPs that will not be possible. Many of those affected say they haven’t been left enough time to make alternative arrangements.

Macy's reports fifth fall in quarterly sales

Macy’s, the US department store operator, has reported a 7.4 per cent fall in first-quarter sales, the fifth straight quarter of decline, as customers cut back on buying clothes and a strong dollar discouraged tourists from spending heavily.

Net income fell to $116 million, in the three months to the end of April from $193 million a year earlier. The company's net sales fell to $5.77 billion from $6.23 billion.