p2 oct24 22/10/08 22:16 Page 2
Project James and
Kiss Flights: airlift
news
rescue or more risk?
NO SOONER do I suggest someone fills the capacity
shortage to destinations such as the eastern Med
and Egypt left by the demise of XL Airways, than a
new carrier emerges!
Not that I’m going to claim credit – the Project
James architects (see p4) will have been planning
this long before I mooted the idea – but it’s uncanny
that just as some agents voice their discomfort over
this week
selling Kiss Flights, an alternative option breaks on to
the scene.
But Co-op boss Mike Greenacre’s refusal to sell
Kiss Flights might well extend to Project James’s seats
if you read the open letter he writes to operators,
airlines, the CAA and government in TTG (see p5).
He believes that support of start-up carriers,
which, he argues, present more risk than established
airlines, could drag our industry further into
disrepute, just at a time when it needs to bolster
its image.
He believes travel can’t achieve the credibility
Qantas is the word: Travolta flies in
it deserves while it is unable to give customers Grease stars John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John were reunited on Monday
certainty and confidence that their holiday and for Qantas’s inaugural Airbus A380 flight between Los Angeles and Melbourne.
money will be 100% safe. Travolta is an “ambassador at large” for the Australian flag-carrier.
But ask Aito operators and they say they are being
backed into a corner to use the new players.
One claims that allocations from the big two, Salaries. Operators.
on which operators have relied to support their Meridian duo paid £2.8m p4 Adventure specialist p30
programmes for years, have suddenly been Aviation broker bosses were Activities Abroad is handing
withdrawn, particularly on Greece routes. among highest paid in industry customers a currency-related
So while a new airline might possibly be more windfall after sterling rose
at risk, unless operators are prepared to ditch Protection. against the Norwegian krona
their programmes altogether, they have to get Greenacre’s open letter p5
their airlift somewhere. Many are consequently Co-op boss calls for trade to stick Hotels.
welcoming Project James with open with established airlines and urges EasyHotel overtures p34
arms; some may even be prepared to industry to improve lobbying Budget chain easyHotel says that
invest in it. If what they say about the working with agents “could make
big two not playing ball is true, then Online. sense” as it prepares to open
faced with Hobson’s Choice, who can blame Now Expedia seeks agents p9 Heathrow property
them? One of the first and biggest online
Using only established airlines is agents is now asking the trade to Air.
not Greenacre’s sole solution to help it sell on the high street Remaking Manchester p36
restoring the industry’s credibility. Manchester Airport Group
Perhaps, his admission of Bed banks. commercial director Andrew
“embarrassment” over travel’s Youtravel principal review p12 Harrison explains how it is
“weak and ineffective” lobbying Accommodation specialist says it investing to be ready for growth
attempts for a comprehensive, may review protection and claims next year
industry-wide financial protection it will break even this year
scheme, thus far, will spur Abta to SECTORS.
renewed action. Cruise. Cruise p26
Niche sector resilient p27 Operators p30
Star Clippers, SeaDream and Hotels & resorts p32
Lucy Huxley Editor Yachts of Seabourn say sector is Air p36
beating the downturn Business travel p38
02 24.10.2008
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