NEW TECHNOLOGY
Left: the proposed UK route. Right: the Hyperloop testing ground in Nevada North of England Hyperloop on shortlist
TRAVELLING BETWEEN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND’S six major cities in just 47 minutes could become reality with a revolutionary new transport system on the shortlist of an Elon-Musk inspired global challenge. The Northern Arc proposal has been revealed as one of nine shortlisted routes spanning Europe as part of Hyperloop One’s global challenge. (See Technology Game Changers, page 50)
DISTRIBUTION
Travel groups demand action against GDS fees
A COALITION OF AIRLINE AND PASSENGER GROUPS has called on the European Commission to act against consolidation and lack of distribution transparency in the airline industry. Organisations including
GTMC, GBTA and the European Technology and Travel Services Association have sent an open letter to European commissioner for transport, Violeta Bulc, expressing concern with the “growing threat” to transparency, competition and consumer choice in the airline market. It’s asked for support to defend the “values of an open and competitive aviation market laid down by the EU in the 1990s”. The letter also argued that efforts made by airlines to limit transparency in airline distribution, illustrated by Lufthansa and British Airways, must be tackled.
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“The signatories to this letter have for two years warned against this dangerous development, but it has now happened in the form of a new distribution strategy announced a few days ago by IAG,” the letter said. They warned the moves by BA and Lufthansa to introduce a fee for non-direct bookings “discriminate against the transparent and neutral channel and force customers (and agents) to book tickets on British Airways and Iberia through IAG’s own distribution systems”. They said the more airlines that do this, the more difficult it will be to sustain independent, neutral distribution channels, and they claimed consolidation in the industry will lead to higher prices and “damage consumer interests”.
AIRLINES
AIRLINE CONTRACTS SHOULD ‘GO BEYOND PRICE’
TRAVEL BUYERS MUST RESPOND to changing employee demands by ensuring airline contracts go beyond price, according to ACTE. The corporate travel organisation said workers are choosing companies that allow them to be most efficient on the road. It said employees expect lounge access, fast-track security, in-flight wifi and priority seating. “We’ve seen that travel policies and how companies treat their travellers is an important factor in retention and motivation of current employees. Recruits also want to know a company’s travel policy before they sign on so that they understand how they will be treated when on the road,” said Greeley Koch, ACTE’s executive director. Koch said the mindset for travel executives has shifted to meld procurement approaches, in terms of lowest price, with the idea that they must secure amenities that will improve the journey.
BBT July/August 2017 9
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