Iata boss slams aviation providers


Ian Taylor Iata AGM, Delhi


Iata director general Willie Walsh hit out at fuel suppliers, aircraft manufacturers, air traffic control providers and the EU and UK governments at the Iata annual general meeting in Delhi this week. He accused fuel suppliers of


“adding $1 billion to the price airlines are paying for fuel” in Europe since the EU and UK sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandates were introduced on January 1, labelling this “an outrage” for which “consumers are paying”. Both mandates require SAF to


comprise 2% of fuel on departing flights this year, with fuel suppliers


facing fines for non-compliance. Walsh said: “Suppliers are adding


a compliance fee because of the SAF mandate that values SAF at double its market premium over jet fuel. That’s a billion-dollar windfall for suppliers.” He denounced it as a “great green


scam”, insisting “fuel suppliers must stop profiteering on the limited SAF supplies available”, and suggested there is no evidence of the mandates stimulating SAF production. Walsh said: “Mandating


something that doesn’t exist makes no sense. Suppliers are happy to pay fines and pass them on to airlines.” He also hit out at aircraft


manufacturers over continuing delays to deliveries, accusing Airbus, Boeing


Mandating


something that doesn’t exist makes no sense – suppliers pay fines and pass them on to airlines


and their suppliers of “failing badly”, noting: “A delivery backlog of 17,000 [aircraft] implies a 14-year wait between order and delivery.” The delays “push up maintenance


and [aircraft] leasing costs” and have raised the average age of the world’s airline fleet from 13 to 15 years, “slowing progress on fuel efficiency”, he said, adding: “It’s


not acceptable that manufacturers estimate it could take to the end of the decade to sort this out.” He urged governments to “keep


aerospace outside of trade wars to avoid the situation getting worse”. Walsh forecast another


“disappointing summer of delays” in Europe, insisting “air navigation service providers need to face up to their responsibilities”, and described Europe as “ground-zero of an epidemic of ineffective consumer protection regulation”. He said the 20-year history of EU


Regulation 261 on air passenger rights had seen “no reduction in delays or cancellations [but] a lot of cost for airlines – currently €5 billion annually”.


Former Jetline and Forever bosses to lead Skylord Cruise


Lucy Huxley


Ex-Jetline Travel director Andrew Todd and former Forever Cruises director Manish Suchde are to lead a new cruise and holidays brand for Hertfordshire-based Skylord Travel. Skylord Cruise and Holidays is


due to launch this month and plans to sell packages direct to customers and via travel agents. Former Jetline head of cruise


Martin Tanner will also join the project to head product development and creation as part of a seven-strong


4 5 JUNE 2025


team formed of ex-Jetline staff. The roles are the first for the


staff since Jetline Travel entered administration on April 9. Skylord Travel was founded by


Rajan and Kartick Sehgal in 1983 and is now run by their son Ujjwal. It has 80 staff and four shops in the UK and reported annual revenue of £80 million. The company said the new brand


would be “welcome news for the cruise industry, as one of the UK’s largest travel brands steps into the cruise sector for the first time, bringing scale, trust and marketing power”.


Andrew Todd


Manish Suchde


Ujjwal Seghal


Managing director Ujjwal Sehgal


said: “We see this as a once-in-a- generation opportunity to bring something special to the market. The sub-agents I have spoken to are really excited to see what we have to offer.” Todd said: “With branches across


the UK and a network of outstanding agent partners, Skylord is perfectly positioned to offer cruise and holiday products that are not only unique but also highly profitable for our partners.” Skylord Cruise and Holidays said


it would offer an “advanced booking system that will enable our travel


agent partners to book cruise and holidays with automatic product creation and advertising”. It added: “The new Skylord


brand will deploy cutting-edge AI marketing systems to automate over 70% of its digital campaigns.” The company said trade partners


will be given first access to curated cruise and holiday products, while full training, marketing assets and support will also be made available. Suchde, who was a director of


Forever Cruises until 2018, said: “This is an exciting time for all involved.”


travelweekly.co.uk


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