NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW 4
Airline chiefs deny turbulence over referendum
Ian Taylor in Brussels
ian.taylor@travelweekly.co.uk
Airline bosses downplayed the impact of the referendum vote at an Airlines for Europe summit in Brussels on Tuesday.
EasyJet chief executive Caroline
McCall dismissed the turmoil as “short-term turbulence”. Willie Walsh, head of BA parent IAG, insisted: “The fundamentals haven’t changed.” And Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary said: “I don’t think it will have any long-term impact on Ryanair.”
turbulence due to a seismic political decision. It’s a short to medium-term issue and we’ll find a way through. The aviation industry is used to change.” Referring to easyJet’s profits
5 STORIES HOT BREXIT FALLOUT
Walsh declared he was “disappointed”, but said: “People are not going to stop flying into and out of the UK.” McCall said: “Demand was
strong before and that hasn’t changed. Pricing is more challenging, but that is a capacity issue and it is easyJet and Ryanair driving that by adding capacity. “We’re going through a little
Carolyn McCall, Willie Walsh and Michael O’Leary
warning on Monday, McCall said: “We issued that because of the [strike] action by French air traffic controllers. Nothing will change overnight. Much depends on the new agreement the UK negotiates.” Walsh insisted: “The French air
traffic control strikes are the most important issue. Air traffic strikes stop me moving my customers. The vote on Thursday does not.” He added: “Europe benefits
from a deregulated market and we believe it will continue to benefit.”
O’Leary said: “I don’t think
the UK will leave the single market. If you can tell me what [Boris] Johnson and [Michael] Gove will do, I can tell you with more accuracy what we’ll do. But whether it’s a volcano in Iceland or Brexit we’ll work around it.” He added: “I don’t think there
will be any dip or decline in eastern European people flying to and from the UK. Big cities need
people to do jobs.” › Leaders backed Remain, page 70
5 Brexit and eco-tax ‘will hit Balearics’ Jennifer Morris
jennifer.morris@
travelweekly.co.uk
Travel bosses have warned the fallout from Brexit coupled with a new visitor tax could see tourism to the Balearics take a hit.
The length of holidays to the destination could be cut short as a result of last week’s referendum outcome and the Sustainable Tourism Tax, which comes into force this week, according to the boss of Barcelo Hotels & Resorts.
Chief executive Raul Gonzalez said: “The combination of the depreciation of sterling and the eco-tax is a bad combination.” He added: “It’s very difficult to
have a clear opinion [on Brexit] but some people will not be able to pay as much money for holidays and we will see a reduction in the length of holidays.” The tax, approved by the Balearic parliament, costs up to €2.20 per person, per night, and is effective from tomorrow (July 1). Cosmos Tours & Cruises
executive chairman Hugh Morgan 6
travelweekly.co.uk 30 June 2016
“Price is king and it’s probably right Brexit and tax could have a negative impact”
said: “Price is king and it’s probably right that Brexit and the tax could have a negative impact. In about two years’ time someone will scrap the idea and wonder what to do with the money.” He described the tax as “a
waste of time”. The Balearics scrapped a similar
scheme in 2003, a year after it was introduced. Morgan said: “It’s laudable but
I think it will struggle – they need to be very clear what they will use the money for.” Despite his concerns, Gonzalez said he was still “optimistic”, adding: “For the UK it’s not easy to find markets that are a substitute for Spain.” It is the hotel operator’s
responsibility to pass on the tax and it is up to the hotel whether to include the tax in the final price or ask for payment at reception.
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