EasyJet unveils plans to launch to trade next year
Amie Keeley ITT Conference, Split, Croatia
EasyJet Holidays is due to begin talks with agents ahead of its launch to the trade next year. It has previously vowed to
become a “major player” in the holiday market and indicated it would sell through third parties. Speaking at the IT Conference
last week, easyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren confirmed the holidays division would launch to the trade in 2020 and said it was “having discussions” with some of the delegates at the Croatia event. EasyJet has brought in a number
of former Tui executives to run the holidays division, including Garry Wilson as chief executive. “We recognise the value of the
trade and Garry is having discussions with people in this room,” Lundgren said. “Te focus we have right now is
geting ourselves ready for the [main] launch later in the year. “But we are making sure we have
the technology to work with the trade and it’s something I look forward to.” Agents welcomed the news with a
note of caution. We are making sure
we have the technology to work with the trade and it’s something I look forward to
Vim Vithaldas, chief commercial
officer at Te Travel Network Group, said: “We know our members will welcome the launch of easyJet Holidays and as a group we hope to
Heathrow plans to divert rivers to build third runway by 2026
Heathrow this week revealed its masterplan to build a third runway by 2026 and expand by 2050. It includes diverting rivers, moving roads and rerouteing the M25 through a tunnel under the new runway. Proposals for the £30 billion project are open to public consultation until September 13 and follow the High Court’s dismissal of legal challenges against Heathrow expansion.
6 20 JUNE 2019
form a close working relationship. “We would like to see them
demonstrate a strong offering to the trade and look forward to discussing commercial terms.” A number of agents on social
media called for easyJet to offer price parity, with some suggesting this could pose a challenge to Jet2holidays. Lundgren said easyJet Holidays had signed agreements with 500
hotels so far. › ITT Conference, page 12 › Get Social, page 31
Travellers with convictions are being refused US visas
An increasing number of US visa applications are being refused due to the enforcement of stricter border controls, according to a partner at immigration law firm Fragomen. Charlotte Slocombe told the Financial Times that entry had been refused for applicants with records of arrest, caution and drug-related convictions. The number of travellers refused entry at US arrival ports in 2018 was 108% higher than in 2015.
Johan Lundgren, easyJet
InteleTravel hits back at claims of ‘pyramid selling’
InteleTravel has denied fresh accusations that it is operating as a pyramid scheme. Some agents made the claims in
response to news of former Towie star Mario Falcone joining the homeworking company and saying he wanted to recruit 50 people to work for his new venture, Maximise Travel (Travel Weekly, June 13). An InteleTravel spokeswoman hit
back at claims it was a multi-level marketing business, or pyramid scheme, which involves paying members to recruit others rather than for selling products. She said: “Te obscured view is
held by selected travel agents who cannot understand or accept the InteleTravel strategy of growing the travel sector through newly- educated agents, or accept that change is required in a potentially shrinking market.” Suppliers “are able to see the
bigger picture”, she said, adding that travel agents with backgrounds in other industries had also “ had to adapt and learn”. Falcone is yet to finish his
InteleTravel training, which he must complete before selling holidays. InteleTravel was granted Abta
membership in March, when it had 1,800 recruits in the UK. It now has more than 2,500.
Virgin orders 14 A330-900neos to boost fleet of owned aircra
Virgin Atlantic is expanding its fleet with a $4.1 billion order for 14 new-generation Airbus A330-900neos. Eight of the 14 will be purchased and six will be leased, as the carrier continues to increase the proportion of owned aircraft. The new aircraft is designed to be 13% more fuel and carbon-efficient than the A330- 300s they will replace. Virgin aims to be 32% more fuel-efficient by 2024 than in 2014.
travelweekly.co.uk
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 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88
