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Brexit Change Means Tax Free Shopping in Portugal – But Not for NI


WITH the UK’s exit from the EU finalised on December 31st 2020, UK residents from England, Scotland and Wales will be able to claim a VAT refund on retail purchases made in Portugal, starting from 1st January 2021.


Northern Ireland is exempt from the tax-free rules. The UK is a major source of tourism for Portugal,


with more than 2.1 million British tourist visits in 2019. Their retail activity equated to €79 million spent in Portugal stores, with clothing and accessories and non- specialised retail being the categories with the largest share of British spend. With the price of goods in Portugal being on average


5-10% cheaper than in the UK, combined with the additional savings offered by tax free shopping, the purchase power of UK shoppers in Portugal is set to increase up to 20%, creating a strong opportunity for local retailers to maximise their in-store revenue. British residents from England, Scotland and Wales


will be classified as non-EU residents and will be subject to the same eligibility criteria as any other tax free shopping nationality.


They must:


• Reside in England, Scotland or Wales. British nationals residing in Northern Ireland, or within the EU are not eligible to shop tax free in Portugal (proof of residency is required). • Meet the minimum spend criteria of €50+VAT • Export the unused goods outside of the EU within a three-month period. Tax free shoppers from the UK will need to show


their passport together with a separate document providing proof of address, to confirm they reside in England, Scotland of Wales. Once eligibility is determined, British tax free shoppers will follow the usual process of completing a tax free form, which will be validated at customs when they leave the EU (before they return to the UK).


Dublin Airport Chief Hopeful Vaccine Will Boost Travel Next Year


DUBLIN Airport Chief Executive Dalton Philips has said that he is hopeful that widespread release of the Covid-19 vaccine will boost travel levels next year. He said he would like to see 16 million passengers travelling through Dublin Airport in 2021, however warned that it could be 2024 before airport traffic returns to pre-pandemic levels. Speaking to Inside Business, a podcast from The Irish


Times, Dalton Philips said: “I see Q1 being very quiet at similar levels to where we’re at now, down 80-90 per cent through to Easter. Then, you’re going to start to see a pick-up. “There is a real level of optimism now… with six


vaccines on the way. There is huge pent-up demand from people to see loved ones…and for vacations. There’s a real desire to get out of the country next year and while we’re not going to get anywhere near 2019 levels, arguably next year could be 50 per cent of 2019. That’s a lot more than where we are now.”


Fund to Aid Stricken Galapagos Islands Launched


LINDBLAD Expeditions and not-for-profit organisation, Island Conservation, have launched a relief fund to support tourism businesses on the Galapagos Islands after the island was hit hard by the lack of tourism in 2020 resulting from the Covid pandemic. The Ecuadorian wildlife haven generates 80% of its


revenue through tourism, but have seen next to no visitors since March. Lindblad Founder and Chief Executive Sven Lindblad


said: “The people of Galpagos are struggling more than I’ve seen in my 53-year relationship with the Islands. “Stimulating the local economy through community micro-loans has the power to activate a thriving system — helping entrepreneurs and small business owners develop new ideas to complement sustainable tourism, and meeting the needs of the local community long after the pandemic is over.”


January 2021 Travel News


BA Goes Above and Beyond to Help Those in Need


world. The airline has published a summary of its community investment activity in 2020, highlighting everything from the huge generosity of its customers and colleagues through Flying Start, the airline’s global charity partnership with Comic Relief, to the role the airline played in helping communities respond in times of crisis internationally and in the UK, including joining the fight against Covid-19. Thanks to the airline’s customers and colleagues,


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during 2020 it has continued to raise vital funds for Comic Relief. Since the partnership began in 2010, British Airways has raised over £25 million for the charity through Flying Start, reaching more than 824,000 people.


Highlights from the airline’s community activity this year include:


• £65,000 raised for Sport Relief in March, with nearly 3,000 colleagues involved in a range of Sport Relief activities, including breaking a Guinness World Record for the heaviest plane pulled over 100 metres by a team made up of colleagues and sporting celebrities, as part of the airline’s Flying Start partnership • £25,000 donated to the Australian Bush Fire Appeal and free cargo space to transport supplies for animal welfare charities through IAG Cargo • Gold Status for British Airways’ payroll giving programme, a scheme designed to help colleagues support causes that are personal to them. The scheme currently generates almost £280,000 a year in charitable giving


This year British Airways joined the response against Covid-19 with a company-wide taskforce who brought their skills and expertise to communities across the UK to help the fight against the COVID-19 virus.


This resulted in:


• Over 1,500 colleagues giving up their time and using their skills and expertise to volunteer and support organisations across the UK, including volunteering at Covid-19 test centres and foodbanks, and helping communities and caring for those in need through charities such as St John’s Ambulance service and the British Red Cross • Over half a million (503,000) items and care packages such as washbags, pyjamas and amenity kits have been donated by the airline to 157 NHS hospitals, care homes and community groups • With the help of suppliers, over 49,000 food products have been donated to the local community including at foodbanks In addition, this month British Airways worked with


its catering supplier Baxter Storey to donate food items, equivalent to 1,000 meals from its Club and First airport lounges to communities in need through its partnership with food redistribution charity City Harvest. The donations consisted of a wide range of foods including healthy soups and fresh fruit and vegetables. Louise Evans, British Airways’ Director of External Communications and Sustainability, said: “Despite the global crisis in aviation the Covid-19 pandemic has brought, again our customers and colleagues have gone above and beyond and have played a huge part in supporting communities in need. “At British Airways, we’re very proud of our commitment to investing in communities across our network in the UK and overseas. In 2020 we have been able to support a number of community organisations and we are so thankful for all the support from our colleagues and customers. A huge thank you to everyone who has helped.”


Airlines Investigated for Refusing Refunds


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THE Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating whether airlines have breached consumers’ rights by refusing to offer cash refunds for flights they could not lawfully take. The investigation will look at situations where airlines continued to operate flights despite people being unable lawfully to travel for non-essential purposes. The CMA says it is aware that in some cases where


flights were not cancelled customers were not offered refunds even though they could not lawfully travel. In a statement, the CMA said: “The CMA recognises


that the airlines sector, like many others, is under strain due to the pandemic. However, it is concerned that certain airlines may have breached consumers’ legal rights by failing to offer cash refunds, leaving people unfairly out of pocket, and has therefore opened an investigation to examine the matter further.”


S 2020 comes to a close, British Airways has reflected on its commitment to having a positive impact in the communities it serves across the


This year British Airways joined the response against Covid-19 with a company-wide taskforce who brought their skills and expertise to communities across the UK


Millions Spent Lockdown Planning Perfect Getaway


HALF of adults think their next holiday will be ‘the most important of their lives’ – with millions having spent lockdown planning the perfect getaway, according to a study. The new research revealed that most people are planning their next holiday to last a fortnight and offer at least nine hours of sunshine a day – with 28 degree temperatures. The dream holiday will also feature white sandy


beaches, a luxury hotel with a huge pool, cocktails and friendly staff. The perfect break would also involve dining out,


trips to all the local attractions and landmarks – plus lots of time to enjoy their chosen holiday reading. Commissioned by Jet2holidays, the research identified the dream locations, which include Greece and Italy. But wherever they stay, there will be clear blue seas and plenty of opportunity to get a tan. A spokesperson for Jet2holidays, said: “It’s fascinating


to find out what holidaymakers want for their perfect break, particularly after such an imperfect year. “It’s clear from the research that holidaymakers still


have very specific things they want from a getaway – lots of sun, the beach, blue seas, and friendly faces to look after them. “And why wouldn’t they – they have busy lives and


EUROPE has announced that it is suspending the ‘use it or lose it’ rule for airline slots until March 2021, providing much needed relief for the struggling airline industry. The ‘use it or lose it’ rule requires that carriers use


at least 80% of their takeoff and landing positions or risk losing them the following year. European Union governments and the bloc’s Parliament cleared the


LOVEHOLIDAYS has agreed to pay customers £18 million in refunds following a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation. The online travel agent has promised the CMA that


44,000 customers will be refunded by the end of March 2021.


Loveholidays had originally told package holiday customers that they were only entitled to a refund for their hotel accommodation and transfers, refusing to refund their air fares unless the airlines refunded Loveholidays first. In some cases, airlines refused to refund because the flights still went ahead. The CMA said: “Under the Package Travel


UNITED Airlines has outlined its plans to cut emissions by 100% by 2050. The airline will implement an innovative carbon


capture technology known as Direct Air Capture. The process physically captures CO2 and permanently


have been through a lot recently, so understandably they want their break to tick all the boxes.” The research also found that holidaymakers want


direct access to the beach from their hotel, a big screen TV, a games room, gym and a hot tub. The customer service will be on point too – in fact, 80


per cent said friendly staff would be ‘crucial’ in ensuring their holiday was spot on. Cocktails will be enjoyed, while the cuisine of choice among those polled would be Italian. Carried out through OnePoll, the Jet2holidays study


also identified the main reasons for wanting to get away next year. These include ‘desperately’ needing a break (47 per


cent), wanting to feel the sun on their skin (41 per cent) and to switch-off (40 per cent). A spokesperson for Jet2holidays added: “It has of


course been a very unusual year but 2021 is shaping up to be a fantastic year. “The thought of getting away is so exciting and it’s


likely we’ll never have appreciated holidays as much we will with our next one.


“That next holiday is going to be really special. “As the airline and holiday company that has been


praised for how we have handled the pandemic and looked after our customers, we’re looking forward to spoiling customers on their well-deserved holidays.”


Europe Suspends ‘Use it or Lose it’ Rules for Airline Slots


commission’s decision to waive the rule until March 27, 2021. The 27-nation EU’s goal is to avoid a scenario in which empty planes fly routes just so operators can retain their slots, which are worth millions of dollars. The UK, whose Brexit transition period runs out


at year-end, has said it will continue to apply EU rules on slot allocation until the government creates its own system.


Loveholidays Agrees to Pay £18 Million in Refunds to Customers


Regulations, online travel agents are legally bound to refund customers for package holidays cancelled due to coronavirus, regardless of whether or not the agent has received money back from suppliers, for example airlines.


“Having carefully reviewed loveholidays’ financial information, and how quickly it can realistically repay customers, the CMA has accepted loveholidays’ commitment to repay these customers in full by March 2021 at the latest.” So far, loveholidays has refunded £7m of the £18


million owed, but 20,000 customers are still waiting for their money back.


United Uses ‘Direct Air Capture’ Tech to Remove Emissions


stores it safely underground in gas form. United CEO Scott Kirby said: “As the leader of


one of the world’s largest airlines, I recognise our responsibility in contributing to fight climate change, as well as our responsibility to solve it.”


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