GROUND TRANSPORT COMPLIANCE
‘Half of travellers use out-of-policy channels’
BUSINESS TRAVEL PROGRAMMES ARE BEING “UNDERMINED” due to travellers still booking through non-traditional channels, a study has found. According to research from the
Uber makes offer to black cab drivers
UBER HAS OFFERED AN ‘OLIVE BRANCH’ TO BLACK CAB DRIVERS IN LONDON to work with the private-hire car app by waiving its 5 per cent service fee for a year. The taxi technology company has been locked in a war of words with licensed taxi driver associations over the last few years. Now, Uber is looking to repair the damaged relationship. But Steve McNamara, general
secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA), quickly dismissed Uber’s proposal as being “another PR stunt”. He said: “With over 15,000 cabbies registered with specific taxi- hailing apps like Gett and Hailo, we would be amazed if any drivers decide to take up Uber’s offer.”
AIRLINES
BRITISH AIRWAYS ANNOUNCES DAILY FLIGHTS TO IRAN
BRITISH AIRWAYS IS RESUMING DIRECT FLIGHTS TO THE IRANIAN CAPITAL TEHRAN following the lifting of western economic sanctions against the country. Starting July 14, the airline will operate a six-times weekly service during the summer before moving to daily flights towards the end of the year. The service, which resumes after operations ended in October 2012, will be operated by a four-class Boeing 777 and depart from Heathrow Terminal 5.
BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM
Uber has already recently won a key battle against the traditional taxi trade when Transport for London rejected proposals that would have imposed restrictions on private-hire vehicles in the capital. Traditional taxi firms have repeatedly claimed that Uber’s app is illegal because it acts like a taxi meter. But this claim was rejected in a High Court ruling in October 2015, although the LTDA has sought to appeal against this decision.
It has also emerged that Uber is losing US$1 billion a year in China as it faces serious competition from rival Didi Kuaidi. See Andrew Pinnington Q&A, page 9
GBTA and Concur, around half of European travellers who had access to a TMC or online booking tool used alternative channels, such as going direct with a supplier or using an OTA site. They cited pricing, ability to earn loyalty status and more convenience as the main reasons for booking out of policy. The study, Booking Behaviour: The Business Traveller’s Perspective, which surveyed 741 UK, German and Spanish travellers, also showed differences by company size and policy. Employees of larger companies are most likely to use traditional channels as these businesses appear more likely to have these channels available, and require travellers to use them. Even in large companies, however, nearly half of business travellers have used an alternative channel to book at least one trip in the past year. The study said that when employees are required to follow mandated travel they are more likely to use traditional channels, while those encouraged to follow guidelines are more likely to use alternative channels.
AIRPORTS
BA revamps Heathrow First Lounge
BRITISH AIRWAYS HAS REVAMPED ITS FIRST LOUNGE AT HEATHROW TERMINAL 5. The refurbished space for BA First and Gold Executive Club members will see 220 new items of furniture and additional power outlets. Oak wood floors have also been re-sanded, waxed and polished, and carpets have been replaced.
BBT MARCH/APRIL 2016 11
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