p6 news Mar12 10/3/10 18:27 Page 6
news
ttglive.com
Tui looks north for
new shops roll-out
Gary Noakes.
right way, high street retailers can still do well.”
BAA reports rise
THE MIDLANDS and the north will benefit most Some of the new stores will be in partnership
from Tui UK’s plans to open around 30 new shops with Asda, where First Choice already has 35
in passengers
over the next two years. implants, but Longman said talks with “a couple”
High street closures by other retailers and of other major retailers – not supermarkets GROWTH in long-haul and domestic travel
cheaper rents in the recession have prompted – were “reasonably well progressed”. boosted passenger numbers at BAA’s airports
expansion of the Thomson and First Choice The openings will also include several Holiday in February.
retail chain. Superstores, including one at Birstall Shopping BAA’s UK airports Heathrow, Stansted, Glas-
Distribution director Nick Longman (pictured) Park near Leeds. gow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Southampton
said openings would be nationwide, but with Longman denied there had been rock-bottom handled 7.13 million passengers last month, a
particular emphasis on the Midlands, north and deals on leases but added that the recession year-on-year increase of 2.4% – although this
north-east, where Tui was under meant more prime sites were available. figure reflects the impact of heavy snow during
represented, although some would “Good sites still attract reasonable rents, but February 2009.
be in the south and south-east. now there are more vacant units, whereas there Heathrow grew numbers by an underlying
“Generally they will be from were none two or three years ago,” he said. 2.7%. Long-haul travel, much of which departs
the middle of the country Longman said 30-35% of Thomson and First from Heathrow, rose 4%. Within this, connec-
upwards,” he said. Choice sales came through the current retail tions to South America were up by 17.6%, to the
Longman said the shop network. “I honestly think that what has Middle East by 11% and to China by 7%.
openings were proof of happened over the last couple of years is For the first time in two years, domestic
agents’ worth despite the that travel agents have upped their traffic across BAA’s airports grew, increasing by
power of the internet. game,” he said. 1.1% and underlining the economic recovery.
“I have never been a “Levels of service have gone up European scheduled services were up 2.6% and
subscriber to the theory and travel agents have had to transatlantic flights up 2.7% despite heavy snow
that the traditional high adapt. People want the reassur- in the US during the month.
street agent is a thing of ance of talking to an agent and At Stansted, passenger numbers fell 4.5%, due
the past,” he said. others want someone to do the in part to Ryanair scaling back winter flights.
“When run in the work for them.” Glasgow airport saw a 5% fall in traffic this Feb-
ruary, after numbers last year were healthier be-
cause there was relatively little snow. Edinburgh’s
Jet2 focuses on East Midlands
numbers rose 3.5% due to rugby fans travelling.
JET2.COM has revamped the interiors of aircraft
flying from its new East Midlands base and
CAA drops Pirie but
unveiled a ski programme from the airport.
The airline has also introduced an agent
pursues Republic
incentive to encourage the trade in the Midlands
to sell the flights, which start on May 19. THE CAA has decided not to appeal against the
Jet2 said it was setting up a base at East High Court’s decision to acquit Travel Republic
Midlands last year, only for easyJet to say it was managing director Kane Pirie of breaching Atol
pulling out of the airport. regulations, as it was not in the public interest.
Speaking at the launch of the new Boeing 757 However, it is pursuing its appeal against the
cabins this week, Jet2 passenger sales director court’s decision to reject its case against Travel
Phil Ward said the routes to Sharm el Sheikh, the From left: Jet2 MD Ian Doubtfire, East Midlands airport commercial Republic itself. The appeal is due to be heard on
Canaries, Turkey and other eastern Mediter- director Stephen Turner and Jet2 passenger sales director Phil Ward May 7 at the Royal Courts of Justice.
ranean destinations would appeal to a different A CAA spokeswoman said: “We have concluded
market to easyJet. through the trade, and is offering £500 to the that it is in the public interest that the appeal in
In addition to its summer and winter sun agent who sells the most Jet2 flights and Jet2hol- relation to Travel Republic Ltd should continue.”
programme, Jet2 will also offer weekly flights to idays packages from the airport before May 30. The CAA lost its case against Pirie and Travel
Chambery and Geneva from East Midlands, from To enter, send your name, agency details and Republic in November, but initially said it would
December 20 to May 2. booking reference for all flights booked appeal against the ruling both on the company
The airline sells about 10% of its tickets to mybestday@jet2.com. and on Pirie personally.
06 12.03.2010
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