NEWS ROUND-UP NEWS IN BRIEF
BA cabin crew call off proposed four-day strike
A new round of strikes by British Airways cabin crew scheduled for this weekend (June 16-19) has been called off. About 2,900 members of the Unite union, including staff in BA’s mixed-fleet cabin crew, were expected to join the four-day walkout. Talks are to be held at conciliation service Acas to resolve the long-running dispute over pay and benefits. BA said all flights this weekend will operate as planned.
Tipto urges agents to sign up for evening roadshows
Tipto is urging agents to sign up to its Face 2 Face evening roadshows this month. The Manchester South roadshow is on June 20 at the Hallmark Hotel in Wilmslow; the Leeds SuperShow is on June 21 at Leeds United Football Club; and the Newcastle SuperShow is on June 27 at St James’ Park. Agents can meet up to 13 tour operator members at each event, which includes a raffle, quiz, drinks and dinner.
Manchester passengers hit by check-in system failure
Hundreds of passengers were forced to queue for several hours at Manchester airport due to a “technical failure” of a check-in system on Tuesday. Thomas Cook passengers were the worst- affected with 12 of the airline’s flights affected, while other airlines hit included Virgin, SAS, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines. Check-in staff had to switch to a manual system.
Jet2holidays to host 240 agents at Tenerife event
Jet2holidays will hold its VIP Conference this year at the Hard Rock Hotel in Tenerife from November 27 to December 2. More than 240 of the operator’s top-performing and “high- potential” travel agents will attend the conference.
German agents will avoid liability after PTD change
Ian Taylor
ian.taylor@travelweekly.co.uk
German agents have won a change to new package travel rules that appears to breach EU regulations by allowing them to sell ‘package holidays’ without the liability of tour operators.
The German parliament passed legislation implementing the new EU Package Travel Directive (PTD) last week, accepting a new category of ‘combined travel packages’ in Germany that clearly contradicts the directive. The German government
indicated that the European Commission agreed to the change. But there has been no written confirmation from the EC, despite requests from Abta. A booking of two or more
separate travel products from different suppliers will be defined in Germany as a ‘combined travel package’ but will not constitute ‘a package’, under the legislation. Agents will be able to avoid
liability by selling the products of different suppliers separately, issuing separate invoices but accepting a single payment. The
Joint funeral today for Westoe apprentice Chloe and boyfriend
The funeral of agent apprentice Chloe Rutherford was due to be held today (June 15). The 17-year-old was one of the
victims of the Manchester suicide bombing last month, which killed 22 people. Chloe, who was an apprentice
at Westoe Travel and was due to start full-time this month, died
8
travelweekly.co.uk 15 June 2017 CHLOE: Westoe Travel apprentice
alongside boyfriend Liam Curry, 19. The couple were at the Ariana Grande concert to spend time together after grieving for Liam’s
GERMANY: New rules could see agents ‘in breach of EU regulations’
“Only the European Court of Justice can rule on this” John de Vial, Abta
German legislation includes these bookings in the new category of Linked Travel Arrangements (LTAs), intended to apply to online click-through sales between sites. LTAs will require only partial consumer financial protection, with no tour operator liability when the PTD comes into force from July 2018. However, the PTD states that any booking referred to as a ‘package’ will carry the
liabilities of a package holiday. Industry lawyer Rhys Griffiths
of FieldFisher warned last month of the German plan: “This will be in breach of the regulations.” Abta head of financial services
John de Vial told Travel Weekly: “Only the European Court of Justice can rule on this.” The German government’s concession follows intense lobbying by the German trade. The German Travel Association
(DRV) reported MPs received more than 70,000 letters and emails in favour of the move. The industry is awaiting details
on PTD implementation in the UK. › Talk Back, page 21
dad, who died of cancer just a few months before the bombing. A joint funeral was to be held at
St Hilda’s Church in South Shields. A charity appeal raising money for couple’s families has raised more than £2,300 and more companies are being encouraged to donate. Westoe Travel has organised
Together Forever – The Big Prize Draw on August 31, with donations from 30 travel companies. Tickets are £5. For details, go to: together
foreverthebigprizedraw.com
PICTURE: SHUTTERSTOCK
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