VISAS
Digital editor Tom Newcombe compiles the latest news from
www.buyingbusinesstravel.com
Theresa May AIRLINES
VISA CHANGES TO HELP BOOST UK BUSINESSES
IAG’S HEATHROW GUARANTEES
IAG CHIEF EXECUTIVE WILLIE WALSH said the group is prepared to offer “cast-iron legal guarantees” on Aer Lingus’ 23 Heathrow slots if a takeover bid was completed. Walsh told Irish MPs the slots at Heathrow would continue to be owned by Aer Lingus “for at least five years”. He also said “there was no reason for anyone to be concerned” about the future of Heathrow routes to Cork and Shannon. Walsh was speaking to MPs in Ireland in an effort
to gain government approval, which is needed if the Ð1.36 billion bid for Aer Lingus is going to be com- pleted. Aer Lingus has previously stated it is willing to accept an offer of Ð2.55 a share from the British Airways’ owner but proposals put forward have so far failed to gain approval from government and trade unions.
RYANAIR TO APPEAL AER LINGUS COURT RULING
RYANAIR IS TO APPEAL A DECISION by a UK court that it must cut down its 29 per cent stake in Aer Lingus. The Irish airline said it would now take its appeal to the Supreme Court as it “raises human rights issues of significant public importance”. In 2013, the UK’s Competition Commission ruled that Ryanair’s minority shareholding in Aer Lingus reduced competition between the airlines on routes linking the UK and Ireland, and ordered the carrier to cut its stake by 5 per cent.
6 BBT MARCH/APRIL 2015
HOME SECRETARY THERESA MAY has outlined major changes to the visa system to make the UK more attractive to businesses. The overhaul of the system will see the number of visa types available to foreign travellers cut from 15 to four. The home office said the changes will make the system easier to understand and will affect all those visiting the UK from April, whether for business or leisure. The four new visa routes will be: visitor (standard); visitor (to hold marriage or civil partnership); visitor undertaking permitted paid engagements; and visitors transiting the UK.
APPOINTMENTS
ITM APPOINTS NEW CHAIRMAN
THE INSTITUTE OF TRAVEL AND MEETINGS (ITM) has appointed Mark Cuschieri as its next chairman. Cuschieri is global travel lead at Swiss bank UBS, and ITM buyer board director. He will take over from KPMG’s Sarah Makings at the association’s annual conference in April. Cuschieri, who has
more than 20 years’ experience in business travel, said: “I will continue to work with the board, and CEO Simone Buckley, to ensure ITM remains an inclusive association that delivers important and invaluable resources. “ITM must continue to be a platform for collaboration between buyers and suppliers, ensuring the
Mark Cuschieri
business travel community maintains its strong voice.” ITM has also appointed new members to its board: Microsoft global travel category manager Olive Kavanagh; Capita group travel category manager Jon Bolger; and Steve Proud, EMEA travel manager and global commercial airline programme manager at Citi Shared Services.
BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM
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