Your letters


Cook/Co-op merger – just accept you may have to adapt


I can see all the arguments against the Thomas Cook/The Co-operative Travel proposed tie-up (Counter-merger feeling is strong, TTG October 22). William Burton is obviously worried not only


about Cook’s dominance, but also for his own company’s survival. However, I fear that if the merger does not go ahead, then the Co-op would not survive and thousands more jobs would be lost. Being an independent operator, we have adjusted and learned to survive without the high commissions demanded by consortia and large agency groups. I remember Page & Moy turning its back on agencies a few years ago. Now the going is getting tough, it should not be complaining.


Barry Coleman, director, Oriental Panorama


Thames Estuary is just a case of history repeating itself


We’ve been here before (“Rival airport to ‘Boris Island’ unveiled”, ttglive.com). Does anyone remember Maplin Sands near the Thames Estuary? That was in 1971. The project was meant to supplant Gatwick and Heathrow but in the end became a victim of indecision (nothing new there) and an oil crisis. If it does happen, it will be over budget and


overdue and they’ll probably still be debating it in 2025 instead of welcoming the first arrivals!


Peter Cansick general manager, Johnson Stevens Travel travel trade gazette


uk & ireland edition Issue 2933


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24 29.10.2010


‘Holiday Inspirations’ shows agents have a bright future


Travel agents get a raw deal with many commentators predicting their imminent demise, but I see a bright future for smart, savvy travel agents. The agents that will survive will be those that adapt to the needs of customers and offer them what they want rather than a one-size fits all approach. I would like to take the opportunity to con-


gratulate Oliver Broad, my counterpart at Aito Specialist Travel Agents, for the group’s efforts during the recent Aito Holiday Inspirations Week. If travel agents are prepared to roll up their


sleeves and get involved with tour operators and look for marketing opportunities then there is every chance they will be successful.


Derek Moore, chairman, Aito


Not enough has been thought through with ‘rival airport’


The proposals for a “rival airport to Boris Island” (ttglive.com) are incredibly bereft of detail. There is no indication of how an airport of


this size (equivalent to Heathrow plus 50%) would provide for 100,000 on-site staff, the infrastructure for everyday airport operations, or how a dead-end transport system is going to cater for 90 million passengers per year, plus hundreds of thousands of staff journeys.


Mike Carrivick, chief executive The Board of Airline Representatives in the UK


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Fabio Mantegazza: Tell us how we can help you next summer


Following my interview (TTG October 29), I would like to add that Monarch is committed to supplying the trade with the capacity it needs. This includes seeking to meet demand for


capacity on routes to the Eastern Mediterranean where the demise of capacity providers such as XL, Goldtrail and Kiss Flights, and events concerning Viking Airlines AB may have created concerns about an impending shortage. Anybody worried about this should be talking to us, specifically to our broking division First Aviation. We do not envisage providing masses of


capacity at the price points to which Goldtrail and Kiss aficionados have become accustomed, as those are uneconomic. We will strive to provide competitive terms consistent with safe and sensible commercial practice. While our charter and flight-only offerings are well developed and understood, we are also willing to talk to people about new propositions, including deals involving scheduled capacity. We will talk to existing customers about


developing our business in the next few weeks, and be delighted to explore cooperation with new trade partners who find this approach of interest.


Fabio Mantegazza chairman, Monarch Travel Group


WHAT DO YOU THINK? The deadline for letters is 10am on Tuesday. We need your name, job title and company address. Please limit letters to 250 words maximum. We reserve the right to edit. Email: ttgletters@ttglive.com


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