CONTINUED FROM BACK COVER
Thomas Duncan, had contracted the virus in Liberia, passed through exit screening and flew to the US via Brussels. The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) insisted he posed “zero risk of transmission” to other air passengers. However, British Airways suspended flights to the region in August, saying it had to ensure the safety of crew. Abta head of destinations Nikki White said: “Anything that contains risk is sensible, but it needs to be balanced. These things don’t come without challenges.” White said: “We’re in regular dialogue with health authorities to get the most up-to-date advice for members, and we’re in talks with the UK Border Agency and tourist boards so we can give people balanced information. We have to take a balanced view of the media headlines.” The World Health Organization has
warned it could take nine months to bring the outbreak under control.
Ebola: what we know ■ The Ebola virus is largely untreatable. ■ It is caught from the blood, vomit or faeces of an infected person.
■ There is no evidence of airborne transmission – by coughs or sneezes.
■ The people most at risk are health workers, family members and those handling the bodies of Ebola victims.
■ The virus remains dangerous on contaminated surfaces for several hours, so these require thorough cleaning. Carers require full protective clothing and help in removing this safely.
■ The WHO reports all cases so far have resulted from “direct close contact with symptomatic patients”. It states: “Speculation that Ebola might mutate into a form easily spread among humans is unsubstantiated by any evidence.”
■ The affected countries are poverty stricken and their limited health-care systems have been overwhelmed. Sierra Leone and Liberia have between a quarter and a fifth of the hospital beds they need. That has allowed the virus to take hold in the kind of slums common in 19th-century Britain when cholera and TB were mass killers.
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travelweeklybusiness
EUROPEAN REGULATORSGIVEGO-AHEAD FOR DNATA’S TAKEOVEROF STELLA TRAVEL
Phil Davies Iain
The European Competition Commission has given Emirates-owned dnata the green light to take over Stella Travel Services. The deal, announced last month, will see
dnata take over Stella brands Travelbag, Travel 2, Sunmaster, Global Travel Group and Triton Rooms. The formal tie-up could be completed as early next week. Dnata already owns Gold Medal, acquired early this year, and online travel agency Travel Republic, bought in 2012. Iain Andrew, senior vice-president of
dnata’s travel business, said: “The EU regulatory approval of the acquisition is a substantial milestone. “The combined strengths of dnata and
Stella will deliver significant benefits for the travel trade industry in the UK and the UAE.” Stella Travel Services chief executive
Andrew Botterill said: “We’re thrilled to receive regulatory approval to become part of the dnata family. The acquisition is a firm commitment to the UK industry and the deal will accelerate Stella’s growth.” Andrew spoke at a Travel Weekly Business
Breakfast on mergers and acquisitions on Tuesday, alongside Iglu chief executive and
Abta board member Richard Downs. Iglu revealed this week that it is seeking a
new investor to replace minority shareholder Growth Capital Partners, the private equity firm which invested £19 million in the online ski and cruise company in 2012. Deloitte has been appointed to aid the process. Downs told Travel Weekly: “It’s massively early in the process but it’s great for Iglu and the industry as a whole that Deloitte feels confident of the interest in replacing Growth Capital Partners’ investment with a later-stage private equity house.” Iglu secured £7.5 million in finding from Royal Bank of Scotland in June.
SAUDI INVESTOR BACKS BAILOUT OF DISNEYLAND PARIS
Saudi billionaire investor Prince Alwaleed has agreed to back the multimillion-euro rescue of Euro Disney, owner of theme park Disneyland Paris. Euro Disney revealed last week that it needs a €1 billion bailout to tackle its crippling debt. Walt Disney Company, which owns a
39.8% stake in Disneyland Paris, has agreed to back a €420 million rights issue and convert €600 million of the debt owed to Walt Disney by Euro Disney into equity – thereby increasing its stake. Prince Alwaleed is the second-largest
investor in Euro Disney with a 10% stake in the theme park through his Kingdom Holdings investment company.
He said at the weekend: “We will fully subscribe to the rights issue because we support France and we support Disney. They will not take our stake; we will maintain 10%.” The grandson of the founder of Saudi
Arabia, Prince Alwaleed has built significant stakes in assets such as Apple, US banking group Citi and the Savoy Hotel in London. Prince Alwaleed said Disneyland Paris remained a “top-notch tourist destination”.
Andrew: ‘Milestone’
Disneyland Paris is
seeking €1bn in funding
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