p2 Contents Feb12 10/2/10 20:46 Page 2
Despite misgivings,
backing BA could be
news
good for business
ITC CLASSICS’ Jennifer Atkinson has done a brave
thing this week by sticking her head above the para-
pet and calling for the trade to back BA.
Judging from the response to the carrier’s appeal
for support in TTG last week, she is in a minority
– the overwhelming reaction was to tell BA that it is
getting its just desserts for the way it treated the
trade in the past.
this week
“You reap what you sow” was the phrase most
frequently repeated by readers who contacted TTG.
So when Atkinson makes her appeal for an end to
“BA bashing” she is swimming against the tide – and
risking accusations that she is speaking out of vested
interest, as 80% of her customers travel on BA.
But there is surely merit in her suggestion that the
trade should respond to BA’s crisis by showing
support, but winning concessions from the airline.
Popera star to serenade Guernsey
Her judgement is that the collapse in business Singer Katherine Jenkins will launch Guernsey’s Liberation celebrations in May.
traffic is so great that BA has to make a permanent Jenkins, who is a judge and mentor on the TV show Popstar to Operastar, will
change in focus to concentrate more on leisure – so perform on May 1 with the National Symphony Orchestra. May 9 marks both
will need long-term trade support. the 70th anniversary of the evacuation of islanders to Britain prior to the
If Atkinson is right, it’s likely the agents and oper- wartime Nazi occupation and the 65th anniversary of Guernsey’s liberation.
ators who work constructively with BA now will be
the ones to benefit in the future. Agency dispute. Corfu trial.
Virgin in misquote row p5 Parents give evidence p10
The return of confidence An agency has de-racked Virgin The father of two children
Tui Travel this week declared the worst of the reces- Holidays and vowed not to sell its who died of carbon monoxide
sion is over and “enough is enough” with regard to holidays after the operator refused poisoning in Corfu in 2006 broke
capacity cuts. The talk from chief financial officer to bear the cost of a misquote down as he and his partner gave
Paul Bowtell is of new confidence and expansion. evidence in a Greek court
Another positive this week is the 10th anniversary Payments.
of Just Go, a miniple which became a First Choice TTA tackles cash flow p6 Cape Verde.
franchisee three years ago, and has just signed a The Travel Trust Association is Round boosts Verde p11
deal to extend the franchise for five more taking steps to speed up payments Sambala Resort tourism director
years. Co-founder Mark Johnson is con- to its tour operator members after Mandy Round is in talks with
fident enough to promise eight new they complained delays were airlines, operators, agents and
shops to add to the dozen which have hitting their cash flow airports about improving links
all reported solid starts to the year. between the UK and Cape Verde
No one is saying it’s all milk and First choice.
honey out there, and the spat Just Go renews franchise p7 City & finance.
between Virgin Holidays and a The first ever First Choice Tui Travel to rein in cuts p12
Sheffield agent who de-racked franchisee, 12-shop miniple Just Tui has said it will not make any
the operator may be a Go, has signed a new five-year more capacity cuts, declaring
symptom of tough times. contract after three years of success “enough is enough”
But the economic mood under the brand
music continues to change
for the better. Business Travel Show. REGULARS.
Airlines’ hybrid future p9 City & Finance p12
Short-haul airlines will increas- Comment p14
Chris Gray
ingly move towards a “hybrid” Air p16
News Editor
model between no-frills and Cruise p18
full service, industry observers Operators p20
have predicted Letters p24
02 12.02.2010
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