Fears grow families may ‘skip year’ Juliet Dennis


The trade is pinning its hopes on a ‘second peak’ as families continue to hold off booking overseas holidays, with fears growing they may ‘skip a year’. The Advantage Travel Partnership


head of commercial John Sullivan told a Travel Weekly round-table debate: “People are waiting for a late deal. Masses of capacity has been added to the market so there’s plenty to sell. We’re just all hanging on for that second peak.” But he admitted: “A big


percentage of bookings are for 12 weeks out, later in the year or 2025, so is some of the family market skipping a year and booking ahead?”


Hotelplan UK chief operating


officer John Mansell said the group had been forced to drop prices for this past winter season, suggesting families were reluctant to book. “For Santa’s Lapland, we carried


the same volumes as last year but we had to drop prices – we also saw a lot of cancellations,” he said, adding: “It’s due to the cost of living – families have been hit hard. We’d never discounted a holiday in half-term before, but we had to this season.” Operators and cruise lines noted


the importance of all-inclusives as families looked at ways to budget. “Families are definitely the most


cost-conscious,” said Gold Medal marketing director Sarah Lancashire. Lucia Rowe, A-Rosa managing


Airports given longer to install new CT scanners


Andrew McQuarrie


Airports have been granted deadline extensions of up to a year for the installation of security scanners that would allow passengers to keep liquids and laptops in their hand luggage. The government had previously


set a deadline of June 1 for all major airports to introduce computed tomography (CT) scanners that create 3D images. But the Department for Transport


(DfT) revealed this week that it had recognised the challenges involved in installing the equipment, prompting it to approve deadline extensions of


4 4 APRIL 2024


up to 12 months on a case-by-case basis. A department spokesperson said: “We accept there are genuine and pragmatic reasons why this has taken longer than we had hoped.” As Travel Weekly went to press, it


was expected that aviation minister Anthony Browne MP would issue a statement on Thursday, April 4. Airports have reported delays


linked to the manufacturers of the scanners, as well as difficulties stemming from the weight of the equipment. In some cases, floors have needed to be strengthened and new elevators installed. The scanners are intended to boost security levels while improving the customer experience.


More than 50% of passengers at


major UK airports this summer will go through the advanced scanners, according to DfT figures. However, the government is


advising travellers to continue applying the existing rules on liquids and laptops unless they are told otherwise by their departure airport. Since 2006, liquids going through


security have had to be carried in containers of 100ml or less and also displayed in a clear plastic bag. “Our message for passengers


at the moment is that they should prepare as normal,” said the DfT spokesperson. Airports will only be allowed to


Masses of capacity has been added so there’s plenty to sell. We’re just all hanging on for a second peak


director, agreed: “If you make it affordable and good value, and the right environment, they [families] will commit to bookings.” Meanwhile, agents told Travel


Weekly they were preparing for a busy lates period after this year’s early Easter and hoping families would be enticed to book last minute, driven by large numbers of free child places. Seaside Travel brand manager


Richard Lowrey-Heywood said: “I’ve never seen so many free child places on sale on the system, so we’ve been using that in social media marketing to families. I’m gearing staff up for lates to be massive this year.” Barrhead Travel reported a


notable rise in late family bookings for the Easter break and predicted a repeat of the trend for May half-term. President Jacqueline Dobson


said: “Keen pricing, especially during the latter half of the holidays, has prompted last-minute demand from the family market. Summer 2024 continues to be the biggest season for all our divisions but I also think we’ll see another flurry of late bookings for


the upcoming May bank holidays.” i See next week’s issue for full report


Airports could be granted an


extra 12 months to install new security scanners by the DfT


say the rules have changed if every passenger will be experiencing the new scanners. The DfT spokesperson dismissed


suggestions that the policy on scanners would cause delays this summer, saying: “It absolutely should not lead to delays.” The DfT declined to reveal


the new deadlines applying to each departure point, but added that airports had been encouraged to apply for as short an extension as possible. The spokesperson described the


UK’s rollout of advanced scanners as world leading, saying: “No other country is doing it at this scale.”


travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURE: Shutterstock/Frame Stock Footage


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68