p5 nov28 26/11/08 19:52 Page 5
ttglive.com
news
In brief
APD increases ‘will hit
■ BA to revive links to Saudi Arabia
British Airways is to resume flights to Jeddah and
Riyadh in Saudi Arabia from March 29, 2009. It
suspended services to the two cities in March
2005 because of poor performance but will now
sales and destinations’
fly five times a week, using a Boeing 777 to
Riyadh and Boeing 767 to Jeddah. BMI, which
flies to both cities, is doubling its Heathrow-
Chris Gray.
decline in capacity from the UK since XL’s failure.
Riyadh service to six a week in January. HEFTY tax rises on air passengers were met this Virgin Holidays said the charges for 2010
week with a howl of outrage from the industry would harm the livelihoods and quality of life of
■ Ryanair to stop flying from Blackpool and warnings they would hit communities that people in the islands.
Ryanair is to shut its Blackpool airport base from relied on tourism for their livelihoods. Managing director Amanda Wills said: “It is a
January 4, 2009, blaming proposals to introduce Abta and other industry leaders had asked the betrayal of trust for the communities that have
an airport development fee that will be levied chancellor not to increase APD, but in his pre- welcomed UK travellers, many changing infra-
on all passengers. It will close its daily Dublin budget report on Monday, Alistair Darling slapped structures and their own policies to accommo-
route and thrice-weekly Barcelona (Girona) flight on rises that will see the tax more than double date the travel industry and its customers.”
the day before the fee is introduced. for the longest-haul flights by November 2010. She said Virgin Holidays co-ordinated many
Agents, operators and airlines united in con- community projects in the Caribbean so it was
■ River operator to refund ‘bug’ passengers demnation. They warned that the “staggering” “extremely disappointing to see the lack of gov-
River boat cruise operator River Cruise Line is rises, which are based on a destination’s distance ernment commitment to the environment and
giving a complete refund to all passengers on a from London and will start next November, would overseas business communities that depend on
voyage hit by the norovirus bug. Eight of the 100 discourage people from travelling. the UK traveller, illustrated by the APD ruling”.
tourists onboard Lady Anne were kept in hospital Abta warned that the government’s move Advantage chief executive John McEwan said
after the bug spread around the ship during a would particularly hit longer-haul destinations the increases were “absolutely bonkers”.
Rhine cruise. The operator has cancelled the such as Kenya and the Caribbean that relied
ship’s next voyage to have the ship cleaned. on tourism but which had been placed in the
second-most expensive tax band. ■ Full details of APD changes: ttglive.com
■ Virgin takes its case against BA to Europe The Caribbean is already suffering badly ■ TTG’s Travel Gives Back campaign, p10
Virgin Atlantic has formally called on the European because of a collapse in visitors from the US and a
Commission to reject the proposed BA/American
Airlines alliance. The airline’s submission argues
the tie-up would give its two rivals control of
almost 60% of Heathrow-US flights. PALM FUN DAY: THE
most expensive hotel
■ Bmibaby axes Birmingham summer routes launch party in history
About 70 bmibaby staff are facing redundancy took place last week
after the airline said it was stopping its summer as Atlantis, The Palm on
2009 services from Birmingham to Rome, Milan, Palm Jumeirah opened
Lisbon, Madrid and Bordeaux from March 29 to Dubai-style. Kylie
October 24. A spokesman said it was the result Minogue, reportedly
of falling demand for city-break trips, adding that paid a seven-figure fee,
demand for traditional annual-holiday beach headlined at a three-day
destinations from Birmingham was holding up. party that boasted
2,000 guests including
■ Heathrow pledges flights restriction big names such as
Heathrow has promised to raise the number of Robert De Niro, Charlize
flights only in accordance with strict environmen- Theron, the Duchess of
tal controls set by an independent body – even if York, Michael Jordan
it gains permission for a third runway. Its promise and Boris Becker. The
met a sceptical reaction from Mike Greenacre, property is modelled
managing director of The Co-operative Travel, who on the Atlantis hotel
said operator BAA had previously promised not on Paradise Island in
to ask for a third runway if Terminal 5 was built. the Bahamas
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