Iceland’s volcano must rumble on into the general election

EYJAFJALLAJOKULL CONTINUES to rumble on. With the wind now blowing in a different direction,

everyone is counting the cost and looking at the long-term implications of the ash cloud crisis. Airlines, operators, agents and many consumers

are asking who’s going to pay. Those consumers lucky enough to have made it home, that is. There’s also a little time to reflect on the positive response to the crisis from the travel trade, as under- lined by this week’s TTG Letters page. But how quickly the national media moves on. A look in Wednesday’s papers found scant reference to the situation, other than the odd profile of still-stranded tourists bemoaning the fact that they were going bankrupt while their airline or operator failed to get them home. The long-term issues raised by the crisis,

from clearer consumer protection to the real dangers to aviation of volcanic ash, need to remain on the agenda – and that’s where the election should help. With all to play for, each of the main three parties

has given some very considered responses to the questions posed by readers in our Vote For Travel survey in this week’s TTG. And they are thinking about the impact of the

volcano on travel. The Lib Dems say they have been impressed by the customer service exhibited by travel agents during the crisis, and want to do more to protect high-street agents. The Conservative party, meanwhile, say they are

planning a review of consumer protection and travel insurance, and how they are communicated to the customer. TTGis not going to tell you how to use your vote. You may want to vote for local issues that affect you personally, rather than your job or your business. But if you find yourself waver-

ing over the cross, do think about the responses that each of the main parties have given us this week.

And which one is most likely to keep the travel issues under- scored by Eyjafjallajokull on the agenda.

Daniel Pearce

Editor

02

30.04.2010

news

Three of a kind?

With the election campaign moving into its last week, TTGhas put your questions to each of the main parties. From APD to high-speed rail links, the Atol scheme to staff training incentives, the Lib Dems, Labour and the Tories offer up their policies on all the issues that matter to you p10-11

Price-fix trial.

BA ‘leaked’ surcharge p6

British Airways leaked news of a fuel surcharge increase to a select group of travel agents in a “horrible mistake” that scuppered a planned collusion with Virgin Atlantic, a court heard this week

Brochure launches.

Summer 2011 now on sale p7

The major operators are returning to their traditional launch time for summer brochures after delaying last year’s programmes, in a bid to secure early bookings last seen in pre-2009 seasons

Branding.

Shearings revives Wallace p9

Shearings Holidays is rebranding its eight retail shops in a move that revives the name Wallace Arnold after more than five years

City & finance.

Travelzest grows brand p14

Travelzest has seen a 30% increase in UK sales for summer 2010 compared with this time last year

Cruise.

Celebrity’s ‘switch factor’ p18

TTG round-table debate reveals agents are impressed by pricing levels and the level of luxury onboard new ship Eclipse, but believe stronger marketing campaigns are needed

Operators.

Spain off to early start? p22

Spain could lead the way for early bookings for 2011 after First Choice and Thomson negotiated lower rates with hoteliers

Promotions.

Cook to ‘rewind’ prices p24

Thomas Cook is offering more than one million holidays for summer 2011 at prices it claims are guaranteed to be the same or lower than this year

REGULARS.

Comment p16 Cruise p18 Operators p22 Letters p26

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