p4-5 Sep 12 9/9/08 22:17 Page 5
ttglive.com
news
In brief
■ Triton to challenge McEwan role as chairman
The Triton board was expected to mount a
Tangney issues
challenge to John McEwan in his role as chairman
at its meeting on Wednesday after rumours he
was keen for Advantage to leave the umbrella
association gathered strength. McEwan accepted
the chairman’s role at the Triton conference in
threat to Ryanair
April this year but is understood to be keen to
exit at the earliest possible opportunity, which
the Triton contract states is December 31.
Chris Gray.
airport on December 20 for 20 weeks. It
■ Follow the latest developments on ttglive.com AN Aito operator is threatening to
C
O
said it was approached by the airport
report Ryanair to competition to boost its business in ski season.
■ Nigel Ham to head up sales at Seasons authorities over plans to start flights
STO
VER
Nigel Ham, former general manager of the Elite R
Tangney claimed Ryanair had
to Lourdes in December.
Y
negotiated a 75%, or £1,500, per flight
consortium, is to take on the role of head of trade John Tangney, director of Tangney discount on airport charges that would
sales at Chester-based luxury operator Seasons Tours, claimed the no-frills carrier’s plans allow it to undercut his fares. That meant
in Style. He will start in his new post on October 6 will mean fewer disabled people will be able to wheelchair users on his flights paying the full
following a period of gardening leave after his visit the shrine, famed for its healing powers. airport tariff would effectively be subsidising
sudden departure from Elite last month. He wants the Competition Commission to able-bodied people on Ryanair’s flights, he said.
investigate the deal Ryanair has signed with “I’m not afraid of competition, no-frill carriers
■ Monarch salvages XL Tobago winter route Lourdes airport which he said makes it impossible or anybody else playing in my sandpit,” he said.
Monarch Airlines is “in advanced discussions” for his charter-based operation to compete. “But what is unfair is that the competition is
about taking over XL Airways’ service to Tobago Tangney fears he will lose able-bodied not on a level playing field. If Ryanair said it
from mid-December. Monarch previously oper- customers to Ryanair because he will not be able would take 12 wheelchair users, I would say fine,
ated the route, which also calls at Grenada, until to compete on price. He has to pay for full I’ll block-book the seats; but it won’t carry them.”
2002. XL is scrapping its Caribbean programme service operations and extra airport help to cater A Ryanair spokesman refused to comment on
from November. for up to 20 wheelchair passengers per flight. its agreement with the airport, but said its wheel-
He said that could force him to cancel 20 of his chair limit was a health and safety requirement.
■ Continental drops Gatwick services 120 flights a year – meaning fewer seats would He accused Tangney of having a vested
Continental Airlines is dropping its year-round be available for disabled passengers. Ryanair has interest and of being afraid of competition.
flights from Gatwick to New York Newark and a limit of four wheelchair users per flight. “Ryanair is targeting a different passenger
Houston as it focuses on Heathrow. The airline Ryanair already serves Pau, 18 miles from market and ski passengers will benefit from the
will end the Gatwick flights on October 26, when Lourdes, but starts weekly flights to the shrine’s increased competition on this route,” he said.
it will also start a third daily flight between
Heathrow and Newark. Continental said the shift to
es
eatur
Heathrow was a response to “changing realities”.
e
x
F
ett /R
v
er
■ Hurtigruten thanks BBC for £100k sales
A BBC documentary about the Northern Lights MGM/E
featuring Joanna Lumley has prompted an
explosion of interest in Norwegian cruises
operated by Hurtigruten. The cruise operator
said activity on its website was 200% up,
and that it took £100,000 of business on
Monday, after the programme
aired on Sunday.
■ Digital TTG now online!
TTG now produces a digital
edition of your favourite
weekly travel newspaper. Go
to ttglive.com and click on
the link on the homepage.
LICENCE TO THRILL: Daniel Craig, aka James Bond, will become the official pin-up boy
ttglive.com
For the latest news, reviews and comment
of UK tourism when Bond movie Quantum of Solace opens next month. VisitBritain will
from the travel industry, visit ttglive.com use the film to promote the UK as a visitor attraction as the “home of James Bond”
12.09.2008 05
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