p5 news feb27 25/2/09 21:29 Page 5
ttglive.com
news
In brief
■ Court orders agency to pay Iata debts
Taking on Abta is
London travel agent Ash Green Travel has been
given 21 days to pay undisputed debts of £68,000
to Iata or face closure. Speaking outside the
Chancery Division of the Royal Courts of Justice,
representatives of the company said it plans to
launch a counter-claim for £168,400 against Iata
‘hare-brained’
C
O
STO
VER
R
Y
in the next two weeks.
Iata defends fee increases: Letters, p34
Lee Hayhurst.
“It’s been over-hyped to an enormous extent.
■ Cruise specialist goes under TWO INDEPENDENT travel agency consortia If Advantage wants to replicate Abta it would
First Option Cruises, which traded online as have unveiled non-Abta membership schemes have to take on one hell of an overhead,” he said.
TravelDep, went out of business on Monday. The aimed at reducing the burden of bonding and Abta director Danielle Broccoli, director of
agent was an Abta member and an Atol holder. regulation for members. Worldchoice agent Britaly Travel, agreed. He said
Both Advantage and Worldchoice have Abta’s value is underestimated by agents.
■ FCO puts Bangkok on ‘avoid all travel’ list revealed details of proposals that would allow “If anyone messes me about I want Abta
The Foreign Office warned British travellers to agents to trade outside of behind me. They do a hell of
avoid Bangkok for three days from Wednesday this Abta.
“If Advantage
a lot of work for agents.”
week because of planned demonstrations against Letters sent to suppliers In a separate move kept
the government. TTG and the FCO have teamed up last week about the Advan-
wants to
from Abta until its members
to promote its “Know Before You Go” campaign. tage Protected scheme,
replicate Abta
could be told about it
For the latest FCO advice, go to
ttglive.com/fco which described Abta on Thursday, Worldchoice
membership as “costly and
it would have to
announced its own non-
■ Bed bank director’s ‘shock’ redundancy onerous”, prompted Abta
take on one hell
Abta scheme.
Former
Lowcostbeds.com sales director John Briggs director Steven Freudmann TTA/Worldchoice bosses
is job-hunting after being one of five people made to label it a “direct chal-
of an overhead”
said it was aimed at existing
redundant by the dynamic packaging specialist lenge to Abta”. Abta members and would
last month. Briggs said his departure came as a He called it a “hare-brained scheme” and save them £250 a year on membership.
“shock”. Also looking for work is former Freedom called on Abta to “blow it out of the water”. Worldchoice managing director Simon
Flights sales manager Audrey Brooks-Wiggins, fol- This week Advantage bosses sought to reas- Hargreaves said he was “staggered” by how
lowing maternity leave during which Freedom par- sure the association that it was predominantly many Worldchoice members expressed interest
ent XL Leisure Group failed. aimed at prospective members who do not meet in an Abta alternative in a recent survey.
Abta requirements, not existing Abta members. Abta said it had completed an analysis of the
■ BMI launches Heathrow-Ukraine service Noel Josephides, Sunvil managing director and costs of membership of Abta and consortia
BMI is launching a Heathrow-Kiev service from fellow Abta director, said he did not believe it was including Worldchoice/TTA and Advantage, in
March 29, operating on Monday, Tuesday, a credible challenge to Abta. which the association “came out well”.
Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Return economy
fares start from £203, business class from £649.
A
P
/
P
A
Photos
■ Former cruise boss back to head up Saga
dame/
Former Royal Caribbean managing director
vid A
Susan Hooper is to return to the travel industry
Da
five months after leaving the cruise line. She has
been named chief executive of Saga and AA Travel.
Hooper left Royal Caribbean in September after turn-
ing down a post at the line’s Miami headquarters.
■ Virgin reaches round the world
Virgin Atlantic has unveiled new round-the-world
fares from London Heathrow as its sister airline
operating between Australia and the US prepares
to launch. Fares start at £1,239 (including taxes)
for departures from Heathrow until April 19,
available for sale until March 6.
ABTA SPEAKER: Micky Arison, chairman and chief executive of Carnival Corporation,
ttglive.com
For the latest news, reviews and comment
has been confirmed as a headline speaker at this year’s Travel Convention. He will be
from the travel industry, visit
ttglive.com interviewed by BBC presenter Jeremy Vine at the event in Barcelona on October 6-8.
27.02.2009 05
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76