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OMPETITOR airlines were quick to off er special ‘rescue’ fares to passengers following the collapse of Icelandic airline Wow Air.
Virgin Atlantic, Aer Lingus, Wizz, Norwegian and Icelandair were among the fi rst to come to the rescue of stranded travellers following Wow’s collapse. The cash-strapped airline had already cancelled
some fl ights when a potential rescue deal with rival Icelandair fell through for a second time. Icelandair had reopened talks with Wow after the low-cost carrier lost the support of a potential US fi nancial backer, but discussions broke down a second time.
Chief Executive of Icelandair Group Bogi Nils Bogason added: “The fi nancial position and operations are such that we did not see any reason to continue.”
Call for bonding...
THE collapse of Icelandic airline Wow Air has sparked renewed calls for all travel providers to require bonding to safeguard travellers.. The troubled airline had previously said it was in
the “fi nal stages” of completing an agreement with investors over raising new funds, and that fl ights were “postponed” until the deal was completed, before announcing it had ceased operations. Wow Air continued to accept bookings on its website until its closure. It had off ered low fares between Europe and North America via its Icelandic hub near Reykjavik, including fl ights to and from Dublin.
Thousands of passengers who had booked fl ights were left stranded by the closure, and concerns are growing that some will now be left without refunds.
April/May 2019 Travel News
LEFT: Stephen Patton, Corporate
Responsibility and HR Manager, Belfast City Airport; Sandra Moore, CEO, Welcome
Wow goes, and MAX grounded!
Wow Air had been given until March 29 to present a rescue plan to its lenders. The airline, which operates low-cost fl ights from the UK to Reykjavik and onwards to the US and Canada, has been scrapping unprofi table routes since late last year. It had also announced plans to axe its Gatwick fl ights from March 31, focusing on its Stansted operation instead. It also operated a service to Reykjavik from Dublin and onward to the US when it ceased operations.
Meanwhile, the grounding of Boeing’s 737 MAX aircraft after the Eithiopian disaster has had widespread repercussions for travel, particularly the aviation industry. Leading tour operator TUI has warned that if the grounding of 737 MAX aircraft continues until mid- July, it will cost the travel giant around €200 million. In an update to investors, it warned that this would mean a drop of 17 per cent in full-year profi t, compared to its earlier forecast of profi t being fl at.
If the aircraft stays grounded until the end of September, this would bring a hit of another €100 million and a drop in profi t of 26 per cent compared to last year.
“This impact is especially attributable to costs related to the replacement of aircraft, higher fuel costs, other disruption costs, and the anticipated impact on trading,” it said.
TUI said it is using spare aircraft, extending expiring leases for aircraft that were supposed to be replaced by 737 MAX aircraft, as well as leasing in additional aircraft.
Ryanair had around 130 of the new MAX aircraft on order, to be delivered in the next few months, while the ground is also having a serious impact on Norwegian who used some of the aircraft on its transatlantic routes. Instead it has had to replace them with other, less economic aircraft.
Organisation; and Kieran Hughes, Fundraising and Marketing Manager, Welcome Organisation
City Airport backs Welcome as its ‘Charity of the Year’
GEORGE Best Belfast City Airport has selected the Welcome Organisation as its charity of the year, aiming to raise vital funds to deliver potentially life-saving services to those aff ected by homelessness in Northern Ireland.
The Welcome Organisation currently off ers support through its drop-in centre, crisis accommodation for women, street outreach programme and fl oating support service, but relies on the generosity of the community to operate.
Sandra Moore, Chief Executive of the Welcome Organisation, celebrated the partnership and the opportunity to raise awareness of homelessness and the work of the charity.
She said: “We are delighted that Belfast City Airport has chosen the Welcome Organisation as its charity of the year and are looking forward to working together across a number of initiatives and special fundraising events throughout the year.
“Last year alone we assisted 1,400 individuals by providing a range of services that provided immediate assistance to the most vulnerable in our society. “Partnering with such a major business in Belfast will assist in the funding of frontline services as well as our skills workshops, furniture bank, and Welcome Home store, located on Townsend Street, Belfast.” Stephen Patton, Human Resources and Corporate Responsibility Manager at Belfast City Airport, said: “Sadly, homelessness is a prevalent issue that eff ects people across the community and from all walks of life. “The Welcome Organisation assists by providing a warm place to stay, meals and providing access to vital services, health and mental wellbeing care. “We have a variety of projects planned to assist in raising awareness about the services the Welcome Organisation provides, airport employees will also partake in volunteering and there will be opportunities for the public to donate funds within the airport.
New weekly winter ski charter to Sofi a launched
SKIERS and snowboarders will be able to book seven night breaks to one of Bulgaria’s top ski resorts next winter 2019/20 after specialist tour operator Balkan Holidays announced a weekly charter from Belfast to Sofi a, Bulgaria. Direct charter fl ights will start on December 29, 2019 and continue through to March 1, 2020. Balkan Holidays is off ering holidays to Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo, with free transfers to the resorts included in the price.
Holidaymakers booking before April 30, 2019 can take advantage of a launch off er of £50 per person, discount as Balkan Holidays is waiving the fl ight supplement for a limited period. Prices during the launch period will start at £345 per person. (based on four people sharing self-catering accommodation at the three star Iglika Villas in Borovets, Bulgaria, fl ying from Belfast January 12, 2020).
Learn to ski packs will not automatically be bundled with the price providing further savings, particularly for skiers with their own equipment. Other booking incentives include:
· Free lift pass off ers at selected hotels · Low deposit of £70 per person and early booking discounts · Free child places and discounts · Five per cent loyalty booking discount ·
per child ·
Free luggage allowance of 20kg per adult and
10kg per child · Special off ers and free nights at most hotels · Learn to ski packs from £137 per adult and £89
Specially organised entertainment and après ski programme
“We are pleased to be able to off er this new winter charter fl ight from Belfast. With Bansko continually topping the Post Offi ce Ski Resort Report in terms of value for money, you would be hard pressed to fi nd a better ski deal this winter. Plus the fl ights are conveniently timed to allow maximum ski time,” said Chris Rand Head of Trade Sales, Balkan Holidays. Balkan Holidays operates winter ski and snowboard holidays from selected UK airports to Bulgaria, Slovenia and Romania.
Strabane’s Chris calls it a day
EASYJET’S Chief Operating Offi cer, Northern Ireland’s Chris Browne, has taken early retirement due to her husband’s ill health.
The airline has appointed Director of Flight Operations David Morgan as interim Head of Operations, however it said Chris Browne will ‘remain available’ to the airline for the next three months. Chris joined easyJet in 2016 from TUI where she had been Managing Director of both First Choice Airways and Thomson Airways.
Chris, who hails from Strabane, started her travel career with Spanish airline Iberia and turned heads when when she became Iberia’s UK chief after just a few years service.
EasyJet Chief Executive Johan Lundgren said: “Chris has contributed immensely to the airline in her time here and I am very grateful for all her dedication, hard work and inspirational leadership.” Chris Browne’s resignation comes at the same time that easyJet Holidays’ announced that General Manager Mandy Round has also resigned.
Chris Browne - early retirement
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