Morgan hails Ukrainian agent’s rising confidence


Juliet Dennis


A travel agent who fled the war in Ukraine before joining Miles Morgan Travel is “improving in confidence all the time” despite the ongoing conflict in her native country. Olga Matveiuk joined the


agency group in September last year following a chance meeting with owner Miles Morgan at an agricultural show. She works at the Monmouth


branch’s foreign exchange counter and Morgan said he sees no reason why she couldn’t sell holidays in future once her spoken English has improved further. Morgan said: “She’s done brilliantly.


What’s obvious is her confidence is improving all the time, driven by the improvement in her language skills, and she’s enjoying the job. “She’s come to me with ideas


on things we could be doing as a business and she’s got lots of energy.” Morgan said the improvement


was all the more impressive given Olga was living apart from her partner, who remains in Ukraine, and the continuing conflict. “For someone who in the back


of her mind has all these things going on in her homeland, she is


Olga Matveiuk with Miles Morgan


I would hope she


could go on to sell travel. She has lots of destination knowledge


incredible,” said Morgan, adding: “I would hope she could go on to sell travel. In terms of her destination knowledge, she has lots.” Prior to Russia’s invasion of


Ukraine in February 2022, Matveiuk worked for one of the country’s well-established travel agency and tour operator groups, Artex94, as marketing director.


Strikes in France and UK could spell disruption this weekend


A warning of more travel disruption for the May Day weekend was issued as French workers continue pensions protests. A strike by UK Border Force on Friday could also compound difficulties for travellers attempting to cross the Channel at the start of the long weekend. The Foreign Office said “co-ordinated industrial action” was planned in France on May 1.


8 27 APRIL 2023 Recalling the day she realised she


and her daughter Maria would have to leave their home in Kyiv, she said: “When part of a downed rocket fell from the sky 30 metres away from us, the decision became final.” Matveiuk, who is also an artist,


came to the UK with the help of Artists in Exile, an organisation which supports artists coming to the UK through the government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme. While the move to the UK in July


2022 proved challenging, landing a job in the travel industry has helped her to settle into life in the UK. “Sometimes I forget I’m in Britain and feel like I’m back in Kyiv,” she said.


Cunard to host 150 agents on ships in England and Scotland


Cunard will welcome 150 agents on five ship visits over the next 10 weeks. The line will host three ship visits in Southampton, on May 18, May 25 and June 23, one in Liverpool on June 3 and one in Greenock on July 4. Agents will be given guided tours of Queen Mary 2 or Queen Victoria and hosted for lunch.


CAA calls for views on framework for disabled travellers


The Civil Aviation Authority is calling for views on a proposed framework to improve the experiences of disabled and less mobile passengers travelling by air. The regulator said its framework


would rank the performance of airlines based on their service for disabled and less mobile passengers, from booking tickets and assistance at the airport through to their experience on board and how complaints are handled. Ratings would consider requests


for assistance; onboard facilities, including seating and toilets; boarding and disembarking. The framework will set standards


for bringing assistance dogs onto flights and provide guidance on how airlines should handle mobility equipment and pay compensation when it is lost or damaged. The CAA said it had


“significantly engaged” with disabled people as well as major airlines in creating the framework. Anna Bowles, CAA head of


consumer, said: “Assessing airlines against a standardised framework will ensure that disabled and less mobile passengers will be better informed when they choose which airline to fly with, and will highlight areas where airlines need to do better.” The consultation will run until


July 21.


Classic Collection names winners of its ‘Be our Rep’ competition


Classic Collection has named nine agent winners of its competition to be a guest rep for the operator this summer. They are Amanda Matthews, Designer Travel; Mandy Shillito, Miles Morgan Travel; Tash Marsden, Hays Travel; Linda Hill, LAH Travel; Jane Drake, Hays Travel; Cameron Scott, Not Just Travel; Vanessa Rowley, Travel Bureau; Steve Friend, Brilliant Travel; Charlotte Starsmore, Inspire Europe.


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