March 4 (Reuters) - Online travel agent Loveholidays is preparing to delay its London Stock Exchange flotation amid market turmoil and travel chaos caused by war in the Middle East, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.
The company, which had been expected to announce its intention to float in early March with a targeted valuation of up to 1 billion pounds ($1.33 billion), is now discussing a possible delay and may instead aim to list after the travel-heavy Easter holiday, the source said.
The Financial Times first reported on the IPO postponement on Tuesday. Loveholidays declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.
The potential delay could mark a setback for the London Stock Exchange's efforts to attract major flotations after years of lacklustre IPO activity.
European airline stocks and shares of tour operators and travel agents rebounded on Wednesday after falling for two consecutive sessions amid Middle East travel disruptions.
($1 = 0.7509 pounds)
(Reporting by DhanushVignesh Babu and Yamini Kalia in Bengaluru, Charlie Conchie in London; Editing by Alan Barona and Jan Harvey)
