p4 news Feb26 24/2/10 21:08 Page 4
news
26.02.2010
‘Madeira needs Flight scarcity hits
your support’
Easter hotspots
MADEIRA is hoping a swift clean-up operation
will stop it from losing holidaymakers after the
island was hit by flooding and mudslides.
Rob Gill.
Visit Florida UK director Colin Brodie said the
Severe storms last weekend resulted in the THE TRADE is facing a shortage of flight capacity loss of charter capacity had been a blow. “We
death of 42 people, including one British woman, to some of the most popular long-haul destina- have lost charter capacity – XL used to have
with another 13 still reported missing. tions over Easter. eight or nine flights a week and the big UK
Tour operators have been urging clients The problem is particularly acute to destina- operators such as Tui and Cook are reducing
not to cancel their trips as the floods did not tions such as Florida, the Caribbean and Indian seats to Florida. We have also lost Globespan.”
affect tourist areas and the airport is now Ocean with many flights nearly full or Caribtours said there were only pockets of
operating fully. only offering seats in premium cabins during the flight availability in the Caribbean, particularly
The Atlantic island’s infrastructure is recovering Easter holidays in late March and early April. in the main islands of Barbados, Antigua and
with electricity and water services restored. Operators said flights to the Maldives and Saint Lucia.
Mobile phone and internet connections are also Mauritius were almost sold out over Easter, even Product manager Katherine Hobbs added:
operating again. though there was plenty of hotel availability. The “Clients might pick up a good late deal but flight
Sunvil Discovery product manager Rosanna Canaries were also being affected. availability is limited so they need to be flexible
Melaragni said customers were wary about Madeira The shortage is affecting scheduled and with their plans.”
but no one due to travel there had cancelled. charter flights, where capacity has been reduced Prestige Holidays managing director John
Prestige Holidays had 24 clients in Madeira following the failure of XL Airways and cutbacks Dixon added: “Generally the hotels we work with
when the storm struck but none of them were in- by Tui and Thomas Cook. have lots of availability but there is an increasing
jured. Another six passengers decided to con- Debbie Goffin, Premier Holidays head of sales shortage of aircraft seats for Easter. We prima-
tinue their planned trip to the island. and marketing, said: “Florida, the Caribbean, rily use scheduled carriers and there is a short-
Portugal specialist Atlantic Holidays has the Maldives and Mauritius are pretty much sold age to destinations such as the Canaries,
introduced discounts on Madeira holidays for the out over Easter so it’s difficult to find flights. particularly Tenerife.”
next few weeks to stimulate demand. However, there are still good deals to Far East
Sales and marketing manager Dino Toouli destinations such as Thailand and Malaysia, and ■ Has a lack of long-haul flights affected your
added: “Madeira heavily relies on tourism for its US cities outside Florida.” bookings? Email ttglettters@ttglive.com
economy and the last thing we want now is for
people to stop visiting the island. All the hotels
we feature have not been affected by the floods.”
BA loses more business over strike fear
BRITISH AIRWAYS is set to lose more business March 22.
from the trade after the Unite union again The union is required to give BA seven days’
backed strike action this week. notice before staging a walk-out so any strike
Operators said they were being forced to put announcement will have to be made by March 15
clients on other airlines even if they wanted to at the latest.
support BA because of the fresh uncertainty. BA and Unite were holding fresh talks after the
Aito council member John Tangey, owner of strike vote as TTG went to press.
Tangey Tours, said he was booking customers on Travel plans were already disrupted by strike
to El Al, Jet2 or easyJet to Israel as they did not this week when French air traffic controllers
want to take the risk with BA. started a five-day strike which led to a quarter
He said continuing uncertainty was having a of flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle, and about
long-term impact on BA and the union’s vote half from Paris Orly being cancelled.
would damage the airline and its members’ jobs. Lufthansa pilots also started a four-day strike,
Unite must start any strike within 28 days of but returned to work within 24 hours when fresh
Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo pays tribute to the victims of the announcing the ballot result on Monday which talks started. However, the strike could resume
floods in Madeira after scoring a goal in a match on February 21 means that any industrial action must begin by on March 8.
04 26.02.2010
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