Global Perspective
EUROPE A sleek red Ferrari train arrives Tina Andreasson
Castello Monte Vibiano Food & Services, Italy
Train travel in Italy has taken a huge step forward in the form of ‘Italo’. This new private train, owned by NTV, has been welcomed from the north to the south of the country. Italo is a ‘sleek Ferrari red train’ that offers Smart, Prima and Club classes. In Smart passengers can choose the Smart Cinema section which has large monitors as well as Poltrona Frau leather seats.
LATIN AMERICA A taxing question Christopher Pickard Latin America Travel Association
The UK’s dreaded Air Passenger Duty (APD) is a pernicious little tax. An unfair trade barrier, that needs to be scrapped or reformed. APD is particularly unfair on Latin America as it is being taxed at a higher rate for simply having capital cities that are further from Britain than those of other long haul destinations. Currently passengers to destinations such as Buenos
INDIA Celebrating 100 years of flying Zafar Siamwala
chief operating officer Oberoi Flight Services
Doha, India and Mauritius
The Indian aviation industry celebrates 100 years, with domestic service providers soaring to greater heights in international airspace. Massive investment is being made to upgrade airport facilities but a sluggish Indian economy and difficult global environment continue to pile the pressure on airlines flying in and out of India. Currently, 87 foreign airlines fly to India and five Indian carriers fly
to 40 countries. Domestic airlines carried 43.84 million pax during the first three quarters of 2012 and expected domestic traffic growth is 18 per cent whereas international pax numbers should grow by 12%. Rise in per capita income is making air travel more affordable for Indian travellers. Emirates, Etihad and Qatar are actively in discussion with Indian carriers like Spice jet, Go Air and Jet
Airways for strategic partnership opportunities. There is speculation that Jet Airways will become part of Star Alliance and Indigo will join Sky Team which would provide very strong domestic and regional feed. This would determine the growing demand of the LCC model in global alliance partnerships and pave the way forward for the aviation industry not only in India but globally!
www.onboardhospitality.com 65
Aires, Santiago and Lima, are paying an eye watering ‘standard’ APD of £184 per person. (£92 at the ‘reduced’ rate in Economy). Because of APD we are seeing a growing number of people in Britain flying long haul from mainland Europe to avoid the UK tax. A growing number of Latin Americans are also now skipping the visit to London, or they fly into
the UK, which is not taxed, and fly out of Paris, Amsterdam or Madrid. The irony is that if British politicians understood the economics of travel they would know that if we lose all these passengers to Paris or Rome we are losing far more than the value of APD. A traveller should not be taxed more by a UK government for using the air space of other countries.
Smart passengers can select from the EATaly menu in the restaurant car and the train also offers wifi and LiveTV onboard.
In addition the train features Car Valet – allocated parking for passengers’ cars – and ElectriCity Car which allows passengers to rent an electric citycar when arriving at their destination. Italo travellers can even choose to have
their luggage delivered by Italo staff to their final destination, or alternatively even have a car with their own driver.
Italo has a train manager and a hostess and steward, all trained in hospitality school. It’s nice to see that Italo has a lot to offer with its concepts inspired by the country and has managed to create a very nice experience for the passenger.
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