BA’S GATWICK PLAN: British Airways hopes to relaunch a short-haul operation from Gatwick by summer 2022 after concluding talks with Balpa, the pilots’ union and association. The UK flag-carrier had previously planned a new short-haul subsidiary out of the airport after services were mothballed due to Covid, but the scheme was shelved following opposition from pilots over proposed rates of pay. After the airline started seeking alternative options for its runway slots, further talks took place, following which a British Airways spokesman said: “We will further develop our proposal to provide a full-service short-haul subsidiary operation at Gatwick, offering competitive fares. We would hope to begin operations next summer.” Balpa acting general secretary Martin Chalk said: “This agreement is now BA’s preferred option in relation to the future of short-haul operations at Gatwick.”


Travel retail ‘faces worst staff shortage on record’


Juliet Dennis


Travel firms are being urged to “beef up” benefits to attract staff in the face of the industry’s “worst staffing shortage”. As demand rises, many agencies


and tour operators are offering jobs, but recruitment firms say companies must improve offers amid a staffing crisis across the UK retail sector. Hybrid home and office working


have become “essential”, while personal development opportunities, strong company cultures and a fun working environment can help attract talent, said C&M Travel Recruitment director Barbara Kolosinska. Salaries were “inching up a little”,


she said, but noted pay rises were unlikely. “It’s not just about pay,” said Kolosinska. “Candidates want a good work-life balance.” She accepted it was harder


for high street agencies to offer hybrid working, but suggested job


6 14 OCTOBER 2021


Salaries are ‘inching up’


shares and agents taking virtual appointments at their homes. Marie Moore, director of MBM


Travel Executives, advised firms wanting to take on staff in the first quarter of 2022 to recruit now. She said: “We’re facing the worst staffing shortage on record. If you cannot offer more money, start recruitment earlier and beef up your benefits package. Ask for staff referrals.” Hays Travel, which has 500 roles


to fill, launched a recommend-a- friend scheme in August. People


director Becky Robson said it had “really helped” but accepted recruitment remained “a challenge”. Althams Travel, whose workforce


has reduced by 15% since Covid, may review pay but “not until the new year”. Managing director Sandra McAllister said: “Travel has not always been a high-paid industry; however, the benefits usually made up for that. At the moment, there is little in the way of benefits, so it’s understandable we’re fighting to attract staff to our industry.” Advantage Travel Partnership


leisure director Kelly Cookes agreed, adding: “Most members are not in a position to pay higher wages.” Kuoni is recruiting for up to 20 staff


as it looks to open its 14 remaining shops by the end of November. Protected Trust Services has used


the government’s Kickstart Scheme to fund a full-time content writing role. Head of business development Jacqui Cleaver said: “We wanted to invest in younger people.”


CMA drops Ryanair and BA probe due to ‘lack of clarity’


The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has dropped its probe into the refunds policies of Ryanair and BA during Covid. The competition watchdog


cited a lack of clarity in the law that makes it “insufficiently certain” it would be able to secure refunds for customers who were prevented from flying by travel restrictions. It began investigating in June


over concerns the airlines may have broken the law by failing to offer refunds for flights customers could not legally take during lockdowns. BA offered vouchers or


rebooking and Ryanair provided the option to rebook. The CMA concluded the law


does not provide passengers with a sufficiently clear right to a refund in these “unusual circumstances” to justify continuing with its case. Passengers are entitled to


refunds when an airline cancels a flight, but the law does not cover whether people should be refunded when flights go ahead but they are legally prohibited from taking it.


travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURE: Shutterstock/Sarah2


PICTURE: Shutterstock/William Perugini


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