Britain’s biggest holiday firm TUI Travel outperformed its rival Thomas Cook today but warned winter bookings in the UK had slowed down in the face of weak consumer sentiment.

The Thomson Holidays and First Choice owner reported a 12% year-on-year drop in winter 2011/12 bookings as at November 27, compared to an 11% decline at its last update on September 11, as capacity - hit by turmoil in Egypt and Tunisia - was reduced 9%.

But the recent weak trade followed a record full-year performance as higher margin holidays helped drive a 15% increase in underlying operating profits in the UK to £147m and an 18% rise in group profits to £471m in the year to September 30.

TUI said sales of differentiated products - concept holidays unique to TUI brands - such as water park SplashWorld, Holiday Village resorts and child-free Couples holidays, grew 14% in the UK in the year to September 30.

The robust performance comes shortly after Thomas Cook spooked holidaymakers and investors when it turned to its banks for extra support in the wake of deteriorating sales.