“Despite flying nine hours to Zambia for three days in ATOL REFORM


Lowcost boss warns airlines will avoid Atol due to ‘strong lobbying’


Lucy Siebert


THE BOSS of Lowcostholiday Group believes airline holidays will not be brought into the scheme, despite indications from the government that it is considering it. Paul Evans told TTGthat the


airlines’ lobbying power should not be underestimated. “Airlines are not in. Frankly I don’t think they will come in despite all the nice words,” he said.


When questioned on whether he


was referring to airlines, or airline holidays, he said both. “Do not underestimate their lobbying power. She [Justine Greening, secretary of state for transport] has made all the right noises but that is two years away and she may not be there then. Justine Greening may move in two years or less. We will see. “I would say it is 30:70 against, which is unfair.” Evans added this was despite the


CAA working hard over the past months on making the reform stronger. “The CAA has played a


BARCLAYS TRAVEL FORUM


Delegates predict growth for 2013


NEARLY HALF of travel leaders expect to grow their businesses in 2013 despite the ongoing eurozone crisis, according to a snap audience survey at the Barclays Travel Forum. When asked if they expected to


grow in 2013, 45% of the 300 delegates said they expected to see “some growth” in that year and a further 28% said they thought they would see “good growth”. It also appears that confidence in


the travel sector is reasonably good, despite the ongoing UK recession and increasing uncertainly around


Despite efforts to include airlines in Atol, some in the industry feel this will not happen


blinding card. It has kept the pressure on where it was needed and been pragmatic,” he said. However, Louise Ellman, chair of


the Transport Select Committee, indicated at the Barclays Travel Forum that there was definitely scope for airline holidays to be brought in. On the Atol scheme she said: “It’s better than it was, but it needs to be looked at again.” There have been growing hopes that airline holidays may be brought into the scheme, with the Civil Avia- tion Bill leaving a provision for this. Greening said at the recent Abta


the future of the eurozone. When asked about their outlook for their business next year 44% said they were “somewhat confident” and 22% were “very confident”. There was also optimism around the continued health of the travel market – 52% of delegates said they expected people to travel the same amount in 2013 as this year, while 40% said people would travel more. This comes despite Dr Brian Clark, senior economist at Barclays, warning at the event that a possible Greek exit would badly affect the whole of Europe, although he added that personally he does not think Greece will necessarily leave the single currency. “A Greek exit [from the euro]


Travel Matters event airline holidays could be included in the future. “The [Civil Aviation] Bill gives the


prospect to look at more positives for Atol reform,” she said. On the issue of agent for the consumer and airline holidays she added: “The Bill will look at a programme for further Atol reform.”


The inclusion of holidays sold by airlines has been a key point for Abta, which has been lobbying to get this included. If airlines are not included it would be seen to be giving them a major advantage over travel agents and OTAs.


would affect the UK. It would send a widespread tremor through the European banking system and would have a major effect on the eurozone,” he said.


Clark added that while there could be some similarities with Argentina’s financial meltdown in 2001 when there was “major civil unrest, a banking collapse and a non- functioning economy for some time”, he said he thought a Greek exit would be “different” from this, but acknowledged that tourists may choose to steer clear of the destination until it stabilised.


■Exclusive coverage of the video interviews by Barclays’ head of travel Chris Lee, pages 8-9


the country, all he sighted was a pair of hippo ears” TTGINA’S LATEST TRAVEL GOSSIP, P60


IN BRIEF


■COOK SELLS INDIA STAKE Thomas Cook has sold its stake in Thomas Cook India to a Canadian investor for £94 million. The group said it had reached an agreement to sell its 77% interest in Thomas Cook India to Fairbridge Capital (Mauritius) Limited. As part of the deal, it has granted Fairbridge a licence over the Thomas Cook brand for 12 and a half years in the countries in which Thomas Cook India still operates.


■JDA JOINS MIDCOUNTIES JDA Travel has become the first privately- owned travel business to join the new consortium formed by the Midcounties Co- op Travel. John Donnelly, managing director of JDA Travel, said: “I have high hopes for the consortium and am confident it will be an asset to my business and to all its members.”


■HAYS TO OPEN CLOSED STORES Three of the 14 Vacation World shops that ceased trading have reopened, according to the boss of Hays Travel. John Hays said the shop in Cheadle was being run by ex-Abta board member Doug Wardle and that the stores in Dartmouth and Torquay had also been taken over.


■CONCORDIA RECOVERY STARTS The company responsible for removing the wreck of the capsized Costa Concordia has presented its plans to shift the capsized vessel. The work is expected to begin shortly, and will last around 12 months. Titan Salvage, an American-owned specialist marine salvage company, said it wanted to re-float the hull in one piece, to minimise environmental impact.


■JUBILEE STRIKES FOR STANSTED Stansted airport is to be hit by seven days of strike action beginning this week, and lasting until after the Jubilee weekend. The GMB union, which represents ground staff employed by Swissport at Stansted, said it had given notice of the strike action following the breakdown of talks to resolve a dispute over rosters for baggage handlers.


FOR THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND COMMENT FROM THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY, VISIT TTGDIGITAL.COM


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