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over Taiwan, particularly as Venezuela supplied both with oil. Gaza remains devastated
by Israel’s two-year assault following the massacre of Israelis in October 2023 and Ukraine and Russia remain at war despite US attempts to cajole a settlement. Any one of these regions
could at any moment produce a flashpoint with global implications, including on travel. In the US, the president has
threated to deploy troops on the streets following the killing of a protester in Minneapolis and the Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation against Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, who denounced the move as an attempt to pressure him to cut interest rates. The last head of government
to depose a central bank chief, President Erdogan of Turkey in 2019, triggered a surge in inflation and economic instability which has yet to run its course. Here, we have seen the
defection of leading figures in the Tory party to Reform UK, including Tory leadership contender Robert Jenrick and two other sitting MPs, and the latest U-turn by the government on digital ID cards. The UK economic outlook
remains subdued at best, although the economy grew by a better-than-expected 0.3% in November and reports suggest the January peak sales period has gained momentum since an icy start to the year and despite the added complication of adapting to new pricing rules. The industry may be required
to show even more resilience than usual in the coming months.
CMA reviews relevance of three travel ‘remedies’
Ian Taylor
The Competition and Markets Authority launched a consultation on removing regulations or ‘remedies’ affecting markets dating back more than 20 years on Monday, including three imposed on travel. The consultation forms part of
a regulatory review of 33 measures imposed “to fix competition problems” identified by predecessors of the CMA – the Competition Commission and Office of Fair Trading, both of which the CMA replaced in 2014. The orders relating to travel are:
Q The Restriction on Agreements and Conduct (Tour Operators) Order 1987, which outlawed ‘resale price maintenance’ in the sale of overseas package holidays, preventing tour operators from stopping agents offering discounts or “inducements to customers”. This made it unlawful for an operator to withhold holidays
name of the travel group as well as the agent to be prominently displayed on the front of retail premises and
Sarah Cardell
from sale by an agent or to give “any preference” to agents “who do not offer inducements” or offer these
“only to a limited extent”. Q The Foreign Package Holidays (Tour Operators and Travel Agents) Order 2000, which ensured “customers are aware of who owns the travel agent or tour operator” they deal with. This was relevant at a time when there were more large integrated travel groups owning tour operators, airlines and agencies that often traded under different names. It required, among other provisions, the
brochures and in adverts. Q The Foreign Package Holidays (Tour Operators and Travel Agents) Order 2001, which prevents operators and agents from tying travel insurance to the sale of holidays. This was introduced at a time many agents sold travel insurance before current regulatory restrictions were introduced. It prevented discounts to customers who took out insurance on a holiday. The CMA noted the ‘remedies’
related to marketing practices by large businesses “when most travel was booked in-store”, with chief executive Sarah Cardell saying the review “will ensure only those remedies delivering real impact remain in place”. The review comes as the CMA
investigates Hays Travel’s takeover of Polka Dot Travel and Millington Travel. Those wishing to respond to the consultation have until March 2.
High Court hears claim for review of Gatwick expansion
A High Court hearing into a claim for a judicial review of the government’s consent to bring a second runway into operation at Gatwick began on Tuesday. The claim against transport
secretary Heidi Alexander, brought by the local Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (Cagne) group, was expected to last four days.
78 22 JANUARY 2026
Lawyers acting for Cagne were
to argue that Alexander and the Department for Transport failed to assess properly the climate change impact of the additional runway which is currently used only for taxiing and in emergencies. The £2.2 billion scheme
proposed by Gatwick could lead to an additional 100,000 flights a year. Cagne chair Sally Pavey noted the
planning inspectorate “recommended refusal” of permission for the expansion and the group’s lawyers were due to highlight “a number of gaps in the planning application”. Separately, Heathrow chief
Gatwick
Thomas Woldbye called on the government to speed up planning approval for a third runway and the government unveiled plans to revive the ‘Northern Powerhouse Rail’ project, including a new Manchester Airport station.
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURE: Shutterstock/EQRoy
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