p2 contents Dec18 16/12/09 22:59 Page 2
Amid Globespan and
BA’s bleak midwinter,
news
agents keep smiling
ONE AIRLINE GOES BUST, another teeters on the
edge of an unprecedented strike that threatens to
alienate customers and tarnish its brand for years
to come. So much for a happy Christmas.
One Scottish agent, on hearing the news about
Globespan on Wednesday, commented it had been
a “shit year” and it was ending with “this shit”.
His was a slightly despairing tone. But as agents in
this week
Scotland survey the wreckage of Globespan, and the
tens of thousands of customers whose holiday plans
have been ruined, that’s understandable.
South of the border, chaos and confusion were
again on the march towards Heathrow Terminal 5 as
last-minute talks and legal action were launched to
stop Unite going ahead with its strike next week.
The choice of a 12-day stoppage more or less over
the 12 days of Christmas does seem to suggest a
degree of cynicism on the part of union leaders.
Bourne to dance
There is also a rumour that members may have Stars of tomorrow’s Strictly Come Dancing final will host their own breaks at
been persuaded to vote for the strike on the basis Warner Leisure Hotels in 2010. Dancers such as Darren Bennett and Liloa Kopylova
that it would force BA into talks, rather than actually (third and fourth from left, back row, with the Bourne Leisure agency sales team)
happen. If that were the plan it was playing with fire. will take part in themed holidays in five locations between February and July
Willie Walsh has to reduce the airline’s costs, and
needs to curb the power of the crew unions to do so. Collapse. Protection.
To BA managers, some short-term pain over Globespan failure fallout p4 Fears over Atol reform p10
Christmas when few of BA’s prized business trav- Agents in Scotland have been left Experts claim the DfT’s proposal to
ellers are flying may seem a prize worth paying for reeling by Globespan’s collapse, reform the Atol protection system
the long-term gain of permanent cost savings. but some have suggested the drop could create fresh confusion. We
Again, possibly a misjudgement. Customers who in capacity could nudge fares up assess the five-point plan
miss out on seeing loved ones this Christmas may and ease pressure on margins
blame poor management as much as the unions. ILTM.
Whoever’s to blame, Globespan’s demise and Strike. Confidence at Cannes p12
BA’s troubles mean the industry is heading for a BA threat to operators p5 Optimism was high among the
torrid festive season. A prolonged BA strike would be as 3,000 buyers and suppliers in
But amid the gloom, there’s the bad for specialist operators as the France for this year’s event
uplifting sight of Thomson’s “Face of XL collapse was for mainstream
2010”, Charlotte Leaney, whose smile tourism, the carrier was warned Comment.
will soon grace all of its shops. ‘BA malaise not unique’ p16
And there’s the Hays Travel agents Advertising. The unrest is not unique and agents
whose faces will be adorning Turn-of-year advertising p6 booking with any airline should
billboards across the north-east, From star agents and the X Factor consider the risks, says Kane Pirie
encouraging customers to buy, to TV and radio – operators and
just as agents nationwide will agencies are deploying a range of Amadeus.
be doing throughout 2010. tactics to grab consumers’ attention GDS adds consolidators p22
So to them, and all of in turn-of-year campaigns Agents will soon be able to book
our readers, we wish you a fares from consolidators and other
heartfelt Happy Christmas. Tribunal. carriers in one search on the GDS
Keep smiling. Ex-Travelscope boss fined p9
Former Travelscope financial REGULARS.
Chris Gray
director Mark Horwood has been Comment p16
News Editor
fined £3,000 and given a severe Cruise p18
reprimand for professional Air p22
misconduct Operators p24
02 18.12.2009
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