HCCT (Holidays), the Sale-based company which operates the CT2 holidays and flights brands, has appointed Namita Chopra as Aviation Director.

Ms Chopra, who lives in Bromley Cross, joined the company as flight controller in May, 1996.

She will assume overall responsibility for the operator's aviation contracting and management of aircraft movements for its flight only and package holiday programmes.

The promotion rewards her efforts during major growth which has seen passenger numbers grow from 48,000 in 1996 to 239,000 now. Ms Chopra began her trade career as a junior at Thomas Cook's Bury branch in 1986 and later that year became a reservations consultant with Sol Holidays. In 1988 she returned to retail as a travel consultant with Avalon Travel and the following year joined Manchester-based Martin Rooks Holidays.

She returned to Avalon as sales manager in 1991 and joined CT2 five years later.

Group pre-tax profits were up 82 per cent from £794,785 to £1,449,042 for the year ending December 31, 2000.