Vaccine is ‘game changer’ for travel Juliet Dennis


The trade has hailed news of the world’s first effective coronavirus vaccine as a ‘game changer’ for the sector’s recovery, but insisted airport testing must also take place. The pharmaceutical companies


behind the vaccine, which has a 90% success rate, said it could be ready for mass rollout early next year. Agents and operators were


optimistic the news would boost consumer confidence in booking holidays. Miles Morgan Travel chairman


Miles Morgan said: “This is a game- changing announcement. With news normal life could return in spring next year, [transport secretary] Grant Shapps talking about airport


testing from December and mass testing in Liverpool, Monday was a seismic day.” Share prices in a number of travel


firms climbed sharply on Monday and agents and operators reported a rise in enquiries. Scottish Passenger Agents’


Association president Joanne Dooey, who owns three-branch agency Love To Travel, said: “This is the first glimmer of hope in eight months. “My staff are seeing more


enquiries for next summer. It’s what we need for people to start booking again, but we must also push forward with getting tests at airports.” Abta said the news would “go


some way” to restoring consumer confidence but urged the government to press on with securing a testing


It’s what we need


for people to start booking again, but we must also push forward with tests at airports


regime for December, a regional approach to quarantine and tailored support for the trade. A spokesperson said: “We


must remember a robust vaccine programme is many months away and the industry is struggling now.” The Specialist Travel Association


(Aito) called on the Foreign Office to adopt a “more rational” approach to travel advice and airport testing. Airline bosses were optimistic.


Ryanair plans to operate 75% to 80% of its 2019 capacity next summer. Chief executive Michael O’Leary told a World Travel Market session: “It’s reasonable to think those most at risk will be vaccinated by the end of Q1. “Then it’s reasonable to think


summer 2021 will get back to some level of normality.” Lee Haslett, vice-president of


global sales at Virgin Atlantic, told a separate session: “It’s incredibly encouraging. A vaccine, combined with a clear testing regime at airports and commitments from the industry to work together, will get us moving.” Morgan said it was “a certainty”


that holiday prices would go up, and that customers must appreciate travel firms have been “living on thin air for months”. “It’s about survival,” he said.


Aviation pleas for support fall on deaf ears


Ian Taylor


Aviation industry leaders continue to press the government for sector-specific support despite a fresh rebuff from ministers. Karen Dee, chief executive of


the Airport Operators Association (AOA), said: “The government has not delivered. The Job Retention Scheme on its own won’t be enough. We’re in crisis [and] we’ve seen retail and hospitality get support measures. “The government has not fully


4 12 NOVEMBER 2020


understood the challenges we face. They need to do more.” Gatwick Airport chief executive


Stewart Wingate called for an extension of the furlough scheme for aviation “until the end of 2021”, and demanded business rates relief and “an extension of tax-free shopping to EU destinations, not its removal to non-EU destinations”. Manchester Airport managing


director Karen Smart told the AOA conference: “Tesco received business rates relief of £700 million this year.


About 100 members of the Scottish travel industry call for sector-specific support in Edinburgh last Thursday


Supermarkets are making money out of this crisis. That money would provide rates relief to all UK airports.” Tourism minister Nigel


Huddleston, speaking at an online World Travel Market, defended the government’s record, saying: “We can’t do everything. A lot of requests come from the industry. We can’t save every job.” But Abta chief executive Mark


Tanzer warned: “Abta has had 20 members fail and there will be more. We need targeted support. The travel


sector is closed. There is no business. The logic that applies to [support for] hospitality should apply to travel.” Transport secretary Grant Shapps


told the AOA: “We’ll consider all options that can help aviation.” But he insisted: “11% of total national funding [has gone] just to aviation.’ In a separate blow, Labour shadow


transport secretary Jim McMahon challenged the demand to suspend APD, telling the AOA: “The Treasury will be under financial pressure. Far better, [it] retains APD to reinvest.”


travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURE: Paul Chappells


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