NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW 4


Laptop ban? We’ll just get on with it – Ryanair


Ian Taylor ian.taylor@travelweekly.co.uk


An extension of the ban on electronic devices in aircraft cabins appeared close as US and EU officials met in Brussels this week. But Ryanair chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs dismissed warnings of disruption saying: “We’ll adjust.”


Deloitte lead partner for


travel Alistair Pritchard warned the Advantage Conference in


Nice: “Our intelligence is it could become a global ban.” He suggested the impact could dwarf that of the liquids ban introduced in 2006, and said business travellers unable to put computers with sensitive data in the hold could face the biggest problem. But Jacobs insisted: “We’ll


all just get on with it.” He told a Travel Weekly Business Breakfast on Tuesday: “We are probably heading towards all you can bring on a plane is a smaller smart device. [But] business travellers


Kenny Jacobs: ‘We’ll adjust’


5 STORIES HOT


will be fine with that. If it’s the rules, it’s the rules. Some might take the hard drive out. “You’ll probably see a product


for a laptop in the hold with insurance. People will do whatever they need to do. Devices might get stored in a different way and get to the carousel first. It won’t stop business people travelling. “The biggest issue will be for


parents with kids wanting to watch Peppa Pig.” The US banned devices “larger


than a smartphone” in cabins on flights from eight Middle East airports in March. The UK followed with a ban on devices bigger than 16cm x 9.3cm on flights from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia. A US Department of Homeland Security meeting with US carriers last week led to warnings the ban would be extended. Australia’s prime minister confirmed on


Tuesday he was looking at a ban. › Jacobs: Comment, page 33


5 Industry ‘must act on sickness claims’


Lee Hayhurst lee.hayhurst@travelweekly.co.uk


The recent upsurge in holiday sickness claims is “clearly fraud” and is putting the reputation of UK travel firms at risk.


That is the view of Deloitte


global leader for travel and aviation Graham Pickett, who urged industry leaders at the annual Barclays Travel Forum in London last week to do more to stamp out the soaring number of claims. Abta reported the Balearics has seen a sevenfold increase


in sickness claims by UK holidaymakers since 2015. Pickett said: “Clearly it’s fraud.


There is no doubt about it. “There is co-operation needed


between the industry and police to investigate this stuff further. “If we don’t do something as an industry, it will damage brands.” Pickett praised Jet2holidays


for hiring private detectives to catch out companies that are encouraging holidaymakers to make claims. He spoke out as the Foreign


Office (FCO) extended its warning of claims management firms soliciting bogus claims in Spain


6 travelweekly.co.uk 18 May 2017


“It’s clearly fraud. If we don’t do something as an industry, it will damage brands”


to Portugal. The FCO advised holidaymakers to “only consider pursuing a complaint or claim if you have genuinely suffered from injury or illness”. It warned: “If you make a false


or fraudulent claim, you may face legal proceedings in the UK or Portugal.” Abta has written to foreign


secretary Boris Johnson to highlight “the negative impact on the reputation of UK holidaymakers”. It called for a cap in legal fees to make holiday sickness claims less attractive to claims companies while ensuring legitimate claims can still be brought. Abta said: “It is illegal to make


a fraudulent claim and travel companies are increasingly savvy about spotting signs of exaggerated or dishonest claims.” There have been warnings the


high level of claims could push up prices, or lead all-inclusive hotels to stop selling to UK customers.


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