THIS WEEK IN... A STEP BACK IN TIME
2009
The big two, Thomson and Thomas Cook, hit back at plans by the CAA to increase the Atol Protection Contribution on holidays following XL Leisure Group’s failure by threatening to drop Atol cover on seat-only sales. Worldchoice offered agents the chance to quit Abta with a new category of membership. As Ryanair mulled whether to close its airport check-in desks and make passengers check in online, Thomas Cook announced it was dropping its free luggage allowance on flight-only bookings. From March 2, it charged £8 each way on short-haul and £15 on long-haul for up to 20kg luggage. The UK cruise industry was tipped to reach two million passengers by 2012 [a milestone Clia now expects to have been reached only last year]. The Cruise Report 2009’s prediction was despite a poor economic outlook and Ocean Village’s decision to phase out its ships. Meanwhile, research by P&O Cruises claimed cruise brochures were becoming little more than ‘timetables’ as holidaymakers planned trips online.
1994
We take a look through
the Travel Weekly archives in our 50th year to find
out what was making the headlines 10, 25 and 45 years ago…
1974
Following Horizon Holidays’ collapse, a high court judge was told the claims bill against the firm totalled almost £1.5 million, while a petition for its winding-up was delayed for two weeks to allow for a creditors’ meeting. Meanwhile, the government decided not to refer Court Line’s takeover of Horizon’s goodwill to the Monopolies Commission. In the same issue, Court Line Group recorded a profit of £5 million for 1973, compared with £4.4 million in 1972. British Airways and the Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association joined forces to work out how to handle the airline’s new London-Glasgow shuttle. As a no-reservations route, agents stood to lose commission. BA’s European division marketing director, Charles Stuart, stressed: “One thing is definite: British Airways has no wish to alienate itself from the travel agent – that’s the last thing we want.”
Domestic airlines applied to the CAA to be allowed to raise fares by 20%. Fifteen carriers made the application in the wake of a dramatic rise in fuel costs.
Virgin Atlantic announced plans to expand short-haul franchise operations to long-haul routes out of Heathrow. The move was seen as part of Richard Branson’s strategy to become a global airline. At the Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association annual dinner, Airtours chairman David Crossland said it was high time travel got the recognition it deserved. “We are the world’s largest industry but we gain only minor recognition from government,” he said. In • •• • •••• ••• •• •• Mystery Client section, we surveyed agents in Reading – of which only one name remains today on the high street. Lunn Poly came top, followed by A T Mays, Thomas Cook and Going Places. Columnist Maureen Hill recalled a client who said: “I want to go away, but I haven’t got any money.” After declining budget options, he said: “I’ll leave it, but if anyone calls looking for a travel companion, I’ll go.” Meanwhile, a young-looking Andrew Dickson, of St Andrews Travel in Bolton, bemoaned his lack of Valentine’s cards in his View From The North column.
36
travelweekly.co.uk28 February 2019
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