p36 business travail nov21 18/11/08 14:06 Page 36
Business travel
Martin Ferguson
020 7921 8011
maferguson@ttgbusiness.com
Keep up with the latest business travel news at
ttgbusiness.com
Obama must be
‘balanced’ with
open-skies deal
BUSINESS travel bosses believe Barack Obama
will balance the demands of foreign carriers and
domestic interests when deciding the future of the
open-skies agreement between the US and Europe.
Obama said he intended to protect US carriers
from increased foreign ownership, a policy some
fear would spell the end of the aviation accord.
Phase two of open skies would end restrictions
on foreign ownership, but the president-elect has
BMI woos agents
pledged to maintain the existing limit of 49%.
If phase two does not go ahead, European airlines
would call for the initial agreement to be torn up.
Sue Gurley, executive director of the Associa-
with GDS strategy
tion of Corporate Travel Executives, believes the
business travel industry should be optimistic
about the new leader.
Adam Coulter.
Lounge at Heathrow’s Terminal 1 next June,
With corporations slashing next year’s travel BMI HAS made all its tickets available through the which will be near British Airways’ old domestic
budgets, she said Obama recognised travel was global distribution systems – even its lowest fares. gates.
an important economic driver. The move is to encourage trade sales and Gershon said the proximity to the departure
“He knows he is part of an international reflect the airline’s repositioning as a mid gates would ensure BMI’s 30-minute check-in
community, and understands he must find an and long-haul carrier. guarantee for business-class flyers was honoured.
equilibrium between the interests of the Ameri- Speaking at this year’s World Travel Market, The airline is also redesigning its business
can people and the rest of the world,” she said. sales and marketing director Katherine Gershon check-in area.
If the agreement did collapse it could force also revealed plans to revamp BMI’s business- BMI recently removed all fuel surcharges on
airlines out of Heathrow, reduce transatlantic class product, both in the air and on the ground. its flights within the UK and Europe to encourage
competition and push up fares. “Distribution through travel management more business and leisure travel between the 17
One US airline executive said Obama would companies has always been important to us,” cities on its domestic and European network.
come under strong pressure from unions to she said. Earlier this year, it launched trials of a
protect domestic ownership, regardless of the “When we were solely a domestic and European paperless boarding system for one-way services
consequences for open skies. carrier it made sense to have our low-
WTM report
from Edinburgh and Manchester to
est fares available only online. But the Heathrow and return services between
BMI network now includes Middle East Belfast and Heathrow. It allows cus-
and Russian destinations.” tomers to have barcode boarding pass
The airline will open a Diamond Club sent to their mobile phones.
Fall in Xmas parties ‘heralds failures’
A NUMBER of meetings and events companies Many events businesses rely on these months for
could go under next year, according to the chief a large percentage of their yearly business.
executive of an independent events company. “A large number of event companies will be
Crown Group boss Charles Beer said he feared forced out of business with possibly hundreds
for the future as this year’s Christmas party of jobs lost. Smaller event businesses who rely
events sector has faltered. on borrowing will be the first to go.”
He said: “We estimate between 30-40% of the Beer added that some companies would not
Sue Gurley: Obama recognises travel is an economic driver Christmas party market in the UK is unsold. be holding any festive gatherings at all.
36 21.11.2008
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