Tour operator MyTravel has confirmed it is cutting staff numbers by almost 2,000 as it moves to safeguard its future.

The figure includes 700 job losses first announced two months ago and a further 600 workers who have already been told they are losing their jobs.

MyTravel - the former name for Airtours - said another 500 positions would go in the next 18 months, mainly through normal staff turnover.

The company, which owns Manos and Panorama Holidays in Hove, has not given a breakdown of where the jobs will be lost, although a spokeswoman said only a "small number" would be in the UK.

MyTravel put the job cutting proposals to its banks yesterday as it looks to recover from what it has called the "worst year in its history".

The impact of September 11 and accounting problems left the company with annual losses of £72.8 million.

Since then, trading has been hit by the effect of the Iraq war on bookings.

The Manchester-based group, whose businesses include the Going Places chain, has about 15,000 of its 27,000 strong workforce in the UK.

All of the 700 job cuts announced in February were in the UK, with most focusing on back office operations.

The firms new management team launched a strategic review in November as part of moves to persuade its banks to extend £250 million credit facilities beyond the end of this year.