NEWS TRAVEL WEEKLY BUSINESS CONTINUED FROM THE BACK
consolidators as “opportunistic”. “They have duplicated inventory, so the way they have to get volumes is by reducing prices, which reduces profits,” he said. Hotelbeds was one of several
firms approached by Lowcost Holiday Group, the parent of failed rival bed bank Lowcost Beds, about a potential rescue prior to its collapse in June, Muñoz confirmed. Lowcost blamed the vote
to leave the EU on June 23 for scuppering attempts to attract investment to keep it in business. Muñoz said Hotelbeds had not seen any impact from Brexit and although Lowcost was a customer, there was no financial hit as a result of the failure. “We were well covered in this
case,” said Muñoz. “We had been following the Lowcost situation for two years and we were ready for that.” He added that consumers and suppliers “are looking for valuable partners, and we have a very good position, offering a solid partnership”. In terms of innovation,
Hotelbeds recently unveiled a tie- up with What Now to promote an app to hoteliers offering ancillary products to guests. It has also been ramping up its
Transfer and Activity Bank and plans to treble sales in a sector that offers lower volumes but higher margins. However, Muñoz said he
expected the bed bank to remain the biggest part of the business. “Accommodation is still a more
friendly product for the consumer to book online. In transfers and activities, we are where we were with the bed bank seven or eight years ago,” he added. “It’s important we continue
innovating in technology, launching products and new customer segments. “It’s in our DNA. We are continually launching these types of things into the market.”
Airlines join forces to urge government to scrap APD
Robin Searle
robin.searle@
travelweekly.co.uk
The chief executives of IAG, easyJet and Ryanair united to urge the government to scrap Air Passenger Duty ahead of Wednesday’s Autumn Statement.
Under the umbrella group
Airlines for Europe (A4E), Willie Walsh, Carolyn McCall and Michael O’Leary called for the controversial tax to be scrapped to boost economic growth, business and tourism. A joint statement said the
removal of the tax was particularly needed to strengthen global business links post-Brexit, and said removal would boost GDP by 1.7% and create 61,000 jobs by 2020. The government has been under
increasing pressure to reduce APD from other groups including the Airport Operators Association and cross-party MPs who make up the British Infrastructure Group (BIG), which called for the tax to be cut by 50%, then scrapped altogether. Walsh said: “APD damages the UK’s competitiveness and jobs. It’s a revenue-raising tax designed
‘Boosting access to airports would generate £1.9bn’
Improving surface access to airports could give the UK economy a £1.9 billion boost, according to the Airport Operators Association (AOA). The group released details of
research ahead of this week’s Autumn Statement by the chancellor Philip Hammond. It claimed a 5% improvement in average journey times to and
70
travelweekly.co.uk 24 November 2016
AIR PASSENGER DUTY: Airlines for Europe said axing the tax would create 61,000 jobs by 2020
“Why saddle tourists and businesses with a tax that European competitors don’t?”
to suppress air transport growth, which is exactly what the economy does not need right now. “Britain spends millions of pounds attracting people to the country, only to charge them up to £146 when they leave. Other countries that have scrapped their aviation taxes have seen an immediate boost to their GDP and tourism.
from airports would lead to a 2.7% rise in passenger numbers. This would generate 32,000
jobs and swell the UK economy by £1.9 billion, with much of the benefit felt by communities around airports. The association is calling on
the government to invest in transport links. The AOA’s chief executive,
Darren Caplan, said: “Improvements to transport links significantly boost the catchment areas of airports. “By enabling more passengers to travel to an airport, this
“Why saddle tourists and businesses with a tax that your European competitors do not have? APD is well past its sell-by date and must be scrapped.” Short-haul passengers are
charged £13 for every departing flight from the UK, which rises to £146 for long-haul passengers. This fee is set to increase to up to £150 next April. McCall said: “Removing APD – a
tax on passengers that suffocates demand – would certainly stimulate economic growth and make travel easier and more affordable. There is so much evidence to support this in other countries.”
investment attracts a greater number of airlines, in turn offering more destinations and at higher frequencies. “This ultimately benefits
consumers and businesses.” The AOA wants the
government to plug gaps in airport access based on flying demand patterns, and include that in future rail and road capacity assessments. It also urged the government
to set out how it will make decisions as to which surface access projects at airports will be prioritised.
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