AIRLINES
Air Berlin files for insolvency
after minority shareholder Etihad said it could not offer further funding.
Air Berlin’s flights, including those operated by subsidiary NIKI, are expected to “continue as planned” despite the administration thanks to a bridging loan from the German government. Lufthansa is also “supporting the restructuring efforts” of Air Berlin alongside the country’s government. “This also ensures that all aircraft that are currently operated by Air Berlin under a wet lease agreement for Eurowings and Austrian Airlines will continue operating as before,” said Lufthansa in a statement. “Lufthansa is already in negotiations with Air Berlin to take over parts of the
TMCs HOTELS
Midcounties IHG to move to 24-hour cancellation policy Co-op to
launch TMC
is to launch a business travel division later this year. The Warwickshire-based
group will launch Co-op Travel Management as a “full-service” TMC in winter 2017-18, with Mike Crotty heading up the new division.
He was previously director of operations and business support at Co-operative Travel Management, before it was sold in 2014 and later rebranded as Clarity Travel Management.
“Expanding into corporate has been on the agenda for a while at Midcounties and now is the right time to launch this venture,” said Crotty. Co-op Travel Management said it would be creating a “technology-driven virtual call centre” allowing it to recruit agents from across the UK.
is moving the majority of its properties on to a 24-hour cancellation policy.
IHG, which owns several brands including Intercontinental, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and Kimpton, said that it was moving to this new cancellation policy to create “greater consistency” across its properties. “IHG’s previous cancellation policy varied by both region and brand, and this new change will mean that the majority of the IHG estate will now operate under similar terms,” said an IHG spokesperson. “The changes to IHG’s cancellation policy will provide our guests with greater consistency when managing their reservations and offer certainty for our owners. “Guests will have one day prior to arrival to cancel their reservations without penalty, which still leaves them with 24 hours if they need to cancel their booking.” IHG’s change in policy comes after
Marriott received criticism from travel buyers and TMCs for its move to a 48-hour cancellation policy in the Americas. Hilton has also imposed a 48-hour cancellation policy at its US and Canada properties since the end of July.
Air Berlin Group and is exploring the possibility of hiring additional staff. Lufthansa intends to conclude these negotiations successfully in due time.” Etihad, which owns 29.2 per cent of the German carrier, said the administration was “extremely disappointing for all parties”. “In April this year, Etihad provided
Ð250 million of additional funding to Air Berlin as well as supporting the airline to explore strategic options for the business,” said Etihad in a statement.
“However, Air Berlin’s business has deteriorated at an unprecedented pace, preventing it from overcoming its significant challenges and from implementing alternative strategic solutions. “Under these circumstances, as a minority shareholder, Etihad cannot offer funding that would further increase our financial exposure. We remain open to helping find a commercially viable solution for all parties.”
Intercontinental Hotel, Park Lane, London Business travellers may start booking away
from Marriott’s brands because of its change in cancellation policy, according to a global survey of buyers by the Business Travel Coalition.
Some 59 per cent of respondents said the move was likely to encourage travellers to book away from Marriott’s brands. Only 21 per cent said the new cancellation policy would have no impact on bookings with Marriott. The poll also found that 30 per cent of buyers were considering changing their travel policy to restrict their travellers from booking Marriott properties as a result of the change.
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