p4 News Oct9 7/10/09 22:10 Page 4
news
09.10.2009
Fight rages over
‘BA cuts will
Abta protection
cause despair’
UNIONS have claimed British Airways customers
will be “in despair” if the airline’s proposals to
ABTA has been told
TTG REPORTS FROM
change the roles of cabin crew on long-haul
to target its retail flights go through.
members rather than Unite, the union representing cabin crew, held
bed banks if it wants to an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss
tackle risky business its response to BA’s proposals, which emerged
models. The association was urged to look to during negotiations about plans to cut 1,700 jobs
retailers as chief executive Mark Tanzer (pictured), and impose a two-year pay freeze.
speaking at the Travel Convention, defended A Unite spokeswoman said the changes
its plans to make all members responsible to cabin crew responsibilities, which would lead
for money collected on their behalf.
C
O
to the number of crew on Boeing 747 flights
The move is designed to stop
STO
VER
from Heathrow dropping from 15 to 14, would
customers losing out in the event of
R
Y
worsen customer service. The changes are due
an agency failure, and Abta says it will to start in November.
encourage retailers and suppliers to adopt “If Abta wants to tidy this up to “Customers will be in despair because the
less risky business models. show the association stands for some- company is pursuing this no-frills approach to
But Chris Photi, senior partner at White Hart thing, retailers also have to distribute and sell in cabin crew,” she said.
Associates, writing on ttglive.com, said that such a way that honours the Abta badge,” he said. “It goes to the heart of what BA is about.
Abta was unfairly portraying bed banks as “big Jackson will start talks with his retail partners We think it should remain a full service national
bad wolves”. next week on options including leaving Abta or flag-carrier.”
Photi said bed banks had adapted an changing commercial terms with retailers. BA said it had to cut costs as it was expecting
“unbelievably flexible and workable” model that Tanzer said Abta’s move was a “strong to make a significant loss for the second year
allowed Abta’s retail members to “abdicate statement of principle”. But he insisted it did running for the first time in the airline’s history.
responsibility for the consumer”. not constitute a judgement on the merits of one
Those members should look at their protection business model over another.
and terms with suppliers, he said. Abta board member John de Vial said Abta’s
Somewhere2stay managing director Stuart rule change could encourage a less risky ap-
Saga parent to
Jackson agreed that the issue was not one for the proach to the deals retailers strike with suppliers.
bed banks, which just supply the product agents He said: “Should Abta members be able to buy Titan Travel
need, but for the association’s retailers, which appoint someone as a distribution point and then
choose the commercial models they work by. not take responsibility? We think that’s wrong.” SAGA Holidays’ parent company, Acromas, has
agreed to buy tour operator Titan Travel.
Titan Travel, a family-owned tour operator,
Abta chairman John McEwan has invited Travel years ago – when Abta decided to cease payments was first linked to the owners of the grey-market
Counsellors chairman David Speakman to meet to consumers when an agency went bust. specialist in the summer.
him and chief executive Mark Tanzer to find a Speakman said the only way to properly Titan will join a portfolio of companies under
solution to consumer protection. financially protect the customer was not to allow the Acromas umbrella. Chief executive Andrew
McEwan issued the invitation after Speakman the agent or the supplier to hold the money until Goodsell said: “Titan is a good fit with our exist-
criticised the association’s move to improve con- the product is delivered, putting the money in a ing travel brands: Saga Holidays, Saga Cruises,
sumer protection by making member bed banks trust fund. Spirit of Adventure and AA Travel.”
responsible for money collected on their behalf. McEwan said Abta’s proposals for bed banks In August it was reported that the firm’s
Speakman said Abta was trying to put “one and for an “agents’ Atol” would provide more sale was being handled by McInnes, an arm
wheel back on a wheel-less car” after “surrender- protection for consumers than trust accounts, of Begbies Traynor, the professional services
ing its credibility on consumer protection three as used by Travel Counsellors. company, and that a deal for around £20 million
was likely to be completed.
04 09.10.2009
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