Boris Johnson meets five Hays Travel apprentices
Juliet Dennis
Hays Travel apprentices met the prime minister during a cabinet meeting in Sunderland last week. The five apprentices, together
with John and Irene Hays, were invited to meet Boris Johnson ahead of National Apprenticeship Week this week. They talked to the PM about the
company’s social media and online distribution channels and personal service in its 700 UK branches. Hays is recruiting 669 additional
apprentices across the UK to become travel consultants and 30 for its head office in Sunderland. For the first time, the company
is recruiting in Scotland, northern Ireland and Wales, as well as England, following its takeover of ex-Thomas Cook shops four months ago. Open evenings at some of its 700
branches for would-be apprentices were being held this week. Irene Hays said: “We are very
proud of our apprentices and delighted they had the opportunity to talk to the prime minister about their work and the future of the travel industry, which they are very much at the heart of. “Our apprentices bring huge value to us, and they gain a huge amount
Virgin and partner carriers add access to booking systems
Virgin Atlantic, Air France-KLM and Delta Air Lines launched a long-planned joint venture (JV) on
6 6 FEBRUARY 2020 Prime minister Boris Johnson meets John and Irene
Hays and Hays apprentices Eden Smith, Emily Adams, Aaron Petty, Bethany Meir and Hannah Forest
For me it was great
to be able to earn and continue learning; I think it’s a great way to get into the industry
from their training, with a permanent job at the end of it and a route into a career in the travel industry. We aim to develop our apprentices to their full potential and some of them, like
many of our senior managers who started with us as apprentices, will end up as leaders in the industry.” Hannah Forest, who has just
completed a two-year apprenticeship and now works at Hays’ Fulwell branch in Sunderland, said: “Boris Johnson asked us about what it was like to be an apprentice. “It’s good to see apprenticeships
nationally recognised. For me it was great to be able to earn and continue learning; I think it’s a great way to get into the travel industry.”
SAA’s future ‘safe’ with £185m state rescue package
The future of South African Airways (SAA) appears secure following an agreement with the South African government and banks last week. The airline secured £185 million
in funding from the state-owned Development Bank of Southern Africa last week, enabling it to complete restructuring plans due to be unveiled this month. SAA announced it would
undergo a formal “business rescue” in December. Last month, it was forced to reduce services from Johannesburg to Cape Town and Durban and axe flights to Munich. In a statement, SAA said the new
loan put the rescue process “on a significantly sounder footing” while it seeks additional funding. It confirmed: “Passengers, travel
agencies and airline partners may book SAA with confidence.” The South African government
had made a turnaround at the state-owned carrier a priority.
South African Airways
Monday, enabling agents to book flights on any of the airlines’ systems. Bookings should be available
through the JV partners’ systems from February 13 when the carriers’ loyalty programmes are due to be combined. The airlines subsequently intend to align schedules between Europe and North America. In a joint statement, the airlines
confirmed: “The partnership provides the flexibility to book flights on any of the four carriers through their respective mobile apps, websites or via travel agents.” The JV was announced in July 2017, but has taken until now to secure regulatory approval. Delta owns half of Virgin Atlantic and the pair already operate a
transatlantic joint venture, meaning Delta’s US domestic flights can be booked through Virgin Atlantic. The US carrier also already operates in partnership with Air France-KLM. Virgin Group chairman Sir
Richard Branson had planned to sell 30% of Virgin Atlantic to Air France- KLM, but dropped the plan when the JV secured approval from regulators.
travelweekly.co.uk
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