Karen Kundi, Western & Oriental
Western & Oriental becomes 14th member of Tipto Western & Oriental has joined the Truly Independent Professional Travel Organisation (Tipto). Karen Kundi, trade sales manager at Western & Oriental, said: “Our agent partners are very important to us, which is why we want to enhance our relationship by joining Tipto. It gives us the opportunity to share information about our four brands and the product we have to offer.”
“It seems a ridiculous thing to say, but allocated seating was a really big deal”
EasyJet’s Carolyn McCall recalls reaction to her suggestion to end the seats free-for-all
MORE IN TRAVEL WEEKLY BUSINESS: BACK PAGE
Tui Travel approves merger with parent firm Tui AG Tui Travel has approved a merger with parent company Tui AG. More than 75% of independent directors and shareholders of Tui Travel voted in favour. The outcome of the Tui AG extraordinary general meeting had not been announced as Travel Weekly went to press. Subject to its approval, a court hearing to sanction the scheme will be held on December 10 and the merger come into effect on December 11.
More consumers plan to have overseas holidays Growing confidence in the economy produced a three-point rise to 57% in the proportion of UK consumers planning an overseas holiday in the next year, according to the First Rate Holiday Confidence Index published this week. The overall index rose two points year on year, based on a survey of 5,000 UK adults. ❯ Full survey, page 13
Alitalia to axe up to 1,000 jobs as part of Etihad deal Italian carrier Alitalia could cut up to 1,000 jobs. Reports suggest the airline will cut 879 ground crew, 61 pilots and 54 air stewards and that employees would receive letters of notice from the end of October. A reduction of employees was one of the conditions in an agreement between Alitalia and Etihad Airways to sell a 49% stake.
Sandie Dawe becomes travelGBI ambassador Former VisitBritain chief executive Sandie Dawe MBE
has entered a partnership with travelGBI and will act as an ambassador for the magazine. TravelGBI’s management team, led by editor Lisa Kjellsson, is developing the title, and Dawe will play an important role in repositioning the brand. She said: “I am delighted to be part of the process of cementing travelGBI’s position as the definitive read for the domestic and inbound sectors.” TravelGBI was bought by Travel Weekly Group in June.
Agents sign up in droves to Celebrity
Rewards scheme More than 1,300 agents have signed up to Celebrity Cruises’ new loyalty scheme Celebrity Rewards. UK and Ireland managing director Jo Rzymowska said the line had been overwhelmed by the trade’s response to the scheme, which allows agents to choose their rewards for points gained booking a Celebrity sailing. Speaking at the launch event at Vinopolis in London, Rzymowska welcomed the trade’s “resounding response” to the scheme. Rzymowska (left) is pictured with Michael Dance, Emily Gibbard and Daniel Rump, all Thomas Cook, and Ruth Gardiner, Celebrity Cruises. ❯ Celebrity goes on sale early, page 28
Olympic starts legal action against Monarch Airlines Olympic Holidays has begun legal action against Monarch Airlines, claiming it was overcharged for taxes, insurance and passenger fees between 2004 and 2010. The case opened on Monday at the Commercial and Admiralty Court in London and is due to take two weeks. The two
firms used to work closely, with Monarch supplying 250,000 seats through Avro for the bulk of Olympic’s flying programme. But in late 2010, Monarch
“Olympic continued to
pay, believing Monarch was passing on costs”
ditched Olympic as a customer for the 2011 summer season after talks collapsed over a renewed commercial deal. The legal action brought
Sandie Dawe
8 •
travelweekly.co.uk — 30 October 2014
by Olympic Holidays’ parent, Travelworld Vacations, relates to the period from 2004 to 2010. Travelworld claims Monarch
changed the terms of its contract for the 2003 winter season, bringing in a fixed £1.66 per passenger fee rather than a variable fee for recharging Olympic for costs related to public liability insurance and other airport charges. Travelworld says the proposal to change the terms, communicated in an email, was never received by Olympic or agreed to and Monarch profited from the charge.
Olympic had continued to pay, believing that Monarch
was simply passing on its costs, but that during the period the airline’s liabilities reduced significantly. The court heard Olympic understood there was an expressly implied term in its contracts with Monarch that it would not be overcharged.
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