NEWS


Virus survivor Latif targets bounce-back


Juliet Dennis mmers of light T Fain said Royal Caribbean Cruises was using the


“down time” to adjust its passenger procedures and prepare for a public “that will be much more focused on health and safety than ever before”. “We are working with the CDC [Centers for Disease


Control and Prevention] and others to make sure we are taking advantage of all the new procedures and technology to ensure our cleanliness and health efforts are at the highest level,” he confirmed. “We will take all the steps we need to take to allow you to sail confidently and for your guests to sail securely.” Fain’s predictions echoed those of The Travel


Network Group boss Gary Lewis, who said in a Travel Weekly webcast that “travel was first into [this crisis] and would be last out”. Yet UK agents and operators reported more 2021


bookings this week, with cruise bosses predicting a trend for well-established regions such as the Caribbean rather than more-exotic destinations, and agents reporting that


river cruise and long-haul destinations were selling well. i Recovery forecasts: Business, page 34


he blind founder of tour operator Traveleyes has urged the industry to pull together, reduce costs and be ready for the bounce-back after fearing


he might die of coronavirus. Amar Latif, who spent a week in Leeds General


Infirmary suffering from Covid-19, has temporarily closed his firm, cancelled trips until the end of May and furloughed six of his seven staff. Traveleyes takes groups, half of whose


participants are blind and half fully sighted, on adventure holidays. Latif said: “I am just so grateful to be alive and able to breathe. I didn’t think I was going to come out of hospital alive. “There is nothing more important than health


so everyone needs to follow the guidelines. “We are all in this together. Yes, it is tough, but


as soon as this is over people will want to travel and see the world, and things will pick up. “It’s best to minimise your costs but


communicate well with customers, and be ready for the bounce-back.” Latif spoke out as the trade paid tribute to those


who have lost their lives to the virus, including former Thomson Holidays agency training manager Sian Idris-Evans and British Airways cabin service director Ian Johnson. Idris-Evans, who died on April 7, was 56. She started out as an overseas rep in the 1980s but


Tributes have been paid to virus victims Ian Johnson and Sian Idris-Evans (inset)


was best known for her time running Thomson’s training for Lunn Poly shops and the Thomson Holidays educational programme for agents. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the


late-1990s and was forced to retire early from her role in 2003. Former colleague Derek Jones, now chief


executive of Kuoni parent Der Touristik, said: “She never complained about her lot. It’s so sad after all she went through that we lost her to coronavirus.” Former Lunn Poly managing director John


McEwan said: “She was a strong and inspirational lady and highly respected.”


Airport Operators Association make joint plea to government for support of aviation sector


O


The US extends ‘no sail’ order for cruise ships for 100 days


Saturday, April 11 O


Celestyal Cruises extends sailing suspension until June 29


O


UK government lays on 12 more repatriation flights from India


O


Sunday, April 12 O


Manchester airport urges state bailout of Virgin Atlantic


Monday, April 13 O


CBI and other business groups O


call on chancellor to extend furlough scheme


Britons in Gibraltar warned not to visit Spain via the land border


Tui confirms UK executives to take 30% salary cut


Tuesday, April 14 O


Heathrow consolidates


operations to two terminals OWizz Air cuts 1,000 jobs


O O O


LOT withdraws from Condor takeover


Carnival extends suspension of cruises to June 27


CMV’s Columbus completes month-long repatriation voyage


Wednesday, April 15 O


US airlines agree $35 billion state bailout


O O O


Inghams launches 2021 programme


Princess Cruises delays launch ofEnchanted Princess


Princess, Seabourn and HAL extend suspension of sailings


travelweekly.co.uk


16 APRIL 2020


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