news
‘BA strike to cause long-term losses’
BUSINESS TRAVEL agents have warned BA is facing a long-term loss of custom regardless of the outcome of talks to resolve the dispute that led to strikes by cabin crew last month. Talks continued this week as BA chief execu-
tive Willie Walsh said in the airline’s staff newsletter that he “genuinely believed” a new offer on pay and crew levels could be accepted by Unite. The union said talks were making “serious progress”. But Maurice Veronique, chairman of the Guild
of Travel Management Companies, said: “A lot of people ask for alternative airlines now, both corporate groups and individuals. “People are asking if they should book else-
where, and in some cases we advise they should.” Ian Currington, national account director at
corporate travel firm TMG, added: “There is a distinct danger that people that were loyal to BA before might now try another airline, and then like their service better. “We have had people trying different airlines that they wouldn’t have done otherwise. It’s an unfortunate by-product of the strikes.” UK sports teams, which typically have pre-
arranged deals with the carrier for subsidised flights, are also beginning to look to other air- lines. The British Fencing team admitted if the strikes continued for a prolonged period it would be forced to look elsewhere.
“If it continues as it has in the past few months lots of teams and corporates will question the security of booking with BA,” Veronique said.
ttglive.com
Ex-Libra boss sets up new travel firm
Rob Gill.
FORMER LIBRA boss Akis Kyprianou has vowed his new venture, Dream Holidays, will not become as big as his former company. Kyprianou’s new operator will start a summer
Greece and Cyprus programme in July, aiming to fill the gap created by the demise of several operators to the eastern Mediterranean, including Libra. “This will be a specialist operator – we are looking at building up to 25,000 passengers a year in the next five years,” said Kyprianou, who is managing director of Dream Holidays. “We will not be trying to become another Libra where we carried 500,000 people.” Kyprianou was UK managing director of Libra until it was purchased by Allbury in 2007. The operator stopped trading in December 2009 when its parent company, Allbury Travel Group, went into administration. Dream Holidays, which plans to sell 80% of its
Jet2.com gets a pizza the action
DICKIE TAKES A BOW:
A 22-year-old travel agent has won the crown of the first Miss Edinburgh contest. Over 100 girls applied, but it was Thomas Cook agent Fiona Dickie who stole the show. A spokesperson for the contest, sponsored by the Travel Company Edinburgh, said: “There were a few raised eyebrows when the crown was won by an agent but it was voted fair and square by the five judges.”
06
16.04.2010
JET2.COM IS planning a series of trade events to promote its refitted fleet of Boeing 757s and new summer destinations, including 10 new routes from Manchester. The events started in Manchester airport this week and more will follow in Newcastle, Leeds and Edinburgh. Passenger sales director Phil Ward said the
events aimed to make the trade aware of the refit, which included more comfortable leather seats.
They also aimed to emphasise that Jet2 had more aircraft operating this summer than longer established airlines such as Monarch.
Jet2 was also celebrating five years of oper-
ations from Manchester this week, as well as the 10 new routes, which gives the airport its first scheduled service to Venice since October 2007. To mark the occasion, Hannah Steward and
Beth Kirkham from Manchester agency Miss Ellies Travel created a special limited edition pizza.
The Manetian, which has black pudding,
streaky bacon and cheddar cheese on one side and seasonal Italian vegetables on the others, was then served by by Jet2 cabin crew Philip Berry and Clair Fairhurst (pictured).
holidays through agents, will offer packages, accommodation-only and flights this summer to Cyprus and six Greek islands including Crete, Corfu, Rhodes and Kos. The programme runs from July to October. The majority of flights will be with Monarch
from Gatwick and Manchester. Agents can book through the website or viewdata but there will be no brochures. Commission will start at 12% with higher rates for the best performing agencies. “There Is a gap in the three and four-star
market to Cyprus and Greece, following the unfortunate demise of established brands,” said Kyprianou. “We will be building up slowly and we aim to carry 5,000 passengers this summer.”
Prices will start from £189 for a seven-night
holiday including flights and transfers. Dream also plans to run a winter programme to Egypt from early 2011.
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