Ian Taylor


Gatwick expansion faces challenges 43.2m


Transport secretary Heidi Alexander signed off on Gatwick expansion more than a month earlier than expected on Sunday as the government sought to deliver some positive news ahead of the Labour Party conference. A government source declared


the decision “a no-brainer for growth”, with industry leaders hailing confirmation of the £2.2 billion expansion. Airlines UK chief executive Tim


Alderslade welcomed government “recognition of aviation’s role in delivering economic growth”. Advantage Travel Partnership chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said declared


it “a real win for the UK outbound travel sector”, while Abta director of public affairs Luke Petherbridge insisted: “We believe growth can be delivered in a sustainable way.” However, AirportsUK chief


executive Karen Dee noted: “There is still a lot of work to be done.” The decision appears certain


to face a legal challenge, with campaign group Cagne confirming it will seek a judicial review and insisting “this is not over”. Planning specialists warned the case is likely to go to the Supreme Court. A government suggestion that


“planes could be taking off from a new runway before the next general election” appears fanciful. Gatwick said the first flights could take off by


Atas: Trade sales growth outpaces direct channels


Samantha Mayling Atas Conference, Newport, Wales


The Association of Touring & Adventure Suppliers (Atas) has revealed the proportion of bookings and revenue from agency sales has again outperformed direct channels. Total bookings across direct and


trade sales channels among touring and adventure suppliers were up 5% year on year in the six months to the end of June, delegates at the Atas Conference in Wales heard. Atas director Claire Brighton said: “Agents are outperforming this with


6 25 SEPTEMBER 2025


bookings growth of 8%. And looking at revenue for bookings, the overall sector is at 9% growth, but agents are outperforming this with 14% growth.” The figures, collated from Atas


members with partner Radar, show sales grew to all regions except North and South America and Australasia. Italy remained the number-one


destination, but saw a small decline for the first time. The other top-five destinations also saw declines: Vietnam (-3%), US (-31%), South Africa (-30%) and India (-4%). However, Brighton noted other destinations saw strong growth, with


Gatwick passenger numbers in year to July – still 3m down on 2019


2029, but forecast a judicial review would add 12-18 months to the timescale. A decision had been due on


October 27 after the Planning Inspectorate rejected Gatwick’s draft Development Consent Order proposals to move its northern runway – currently used for taxiing – by 12 metres so it could be used for departures alongside the existing


runway but recommended an alternative with “a range of controls”. These included a requirement


that at least 54% of passengers reach Gatwick by public transport – up from 47% today – and that the airport complies with this for a year before using the runway. Gatwick accepted the controls


but acknowledged the difficulty of meeting this target, with a fallback plan to delay the runway’s opening until completion of £350 million in planned road improvements to relieve congestion – meaning a further delay in expansion. The airport handles 280,000


flights a year, with expansion set to take this to 389,000 and 75 million passengers by the late 2030s.


Claire Brighton, Atas director


Cference 2025


Peru up 14%, Costa Rica 6%, Japan 14% and Morocco 47%, while new entrants to the top 20 were Ecuador, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Continued sector growth has


fuelled a rise in Atas membership. Agent membership grew 20%, on the back of a 25% rise last year. Operator members now total 42, with nine additions since last year, while five associate members have joined, bringing the total to 20. Chair Niel Alobaidi, Newmarket


Holidays chief executive, said this conference was the biggest yet, with 400 delegates. He hailed the


“synergy” between agents and operators and their “ongoing huge commercial opportunity”. Brighton also revealed the Atas


website would add more content from fam trips, boost training courses in partnership with Online Travel Training and add a conference hub to help attendees consolidate their knowledge and share with colleagues. Fams announced at the event


included an Atas/Contiki trip to South Africa, a Not In The Guidebooks trip to Sri Lanka and a Titan Travel/


Virgin Atlantic trip to India. i Atas Conference report, page 10


travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURE: Steve Dunlop


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