p7 dec5 3/12/08 21:01 Page 7
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news
In brief
‘Assess online investments’
■ AirAsia X claims 10,000 sales in 12 hours
AirAsia X claimed it sold more than 10,000 seats
Rupert Murray.
information gathering, playing, creating, trading
in the first 12 hours after launching its no-frills TRAVEL companies were warned they risk wast- and organising. It is just the way in which people
long-haul service between Stansted and Kuala ing marketing money by not properly assessing do these things that has changed,” he added.
Lumpur last week. It advertised introductory the online innovations in which they invest. Edwards suggested that in difficult times it is
one-way fares from £99, with standard prices Firms should make sure they are offering a important to make marketing budgets go beyond
starting at £179. service that customers actually want, advised traditional media. He advised using viral and
Matt Edwards, marketing director of communi- attention-grabbing marketing that has longevity.
■ BA’s plans tipped to be thwarted by red tape cations group Engine. Travel firms were told they should invest in
Analysts believe British Airways will be unable to Speaking at Futurama, a seminar organised by systems that help to cut choice for consumers.
overcome all the regulatory hurdles to complete travel marketing group Cimtig, he said: “Texaco, “On websites so much information is thrown
its proposed merger with Qantas, as well as its for example, spent a lot of money putting a at them and they want to be helped through it,”
merger with Iberia and transatlantic venture facility on their site so that anyone can check out Edwards said.
with American Airlines. BA’s premium traffic their nearest Texaco garage.
dropped 10% and economy carryings 4.8% last “I can’t imagine anyone using a function like
month, compared with November 2007. that; a common sense test is the best to employ.”
Citing Second Life, the online virtual world, he
■ Flybe boosts summer frequencies said a lot of companies lost money by “jumping Sign up for seminars
Flybe has increased frequencies from Cardiff, in with two feet” with tools that did not last. Upcoming seminars will focus on credit crunch
Birmingham, Exeter, Newcastle and Robin Hood He said that while technology might change, tips, cruise marketing and promoting to different
Doncaster/Sheffield airports for next summer. humans do not. generations. To book, go to cim.co.uk/events
It has also added routes to Jersey from Inverness, “People are still the same. They are socialising,
Dundee and Manston in Kent.
■ Four Abta agents cease trading
Four Abta-registered travel agencies have failed
in the past week. They were Landround Travel
of Chester, Palmerston Travel of Macclesfield,
Whaley Bridge Travel of High Peak, Derbyshire,
and Montystar, of London.
■ Aviation minister defends rise in APD
Aviation minister Jim Fitzpatrick has insisted
airlines and passengers can afford to pay the
increases in Air Passenger Duty announced by
the chancellor last week. Speaking at a Future of
Air Transport conference in London, he denied
the increases, which more than double the tax for
the longest-haul flights by November 2010, were
“extreme”. Full report on the Future of Air
Transport conference in next week’s TTG
■ TTA reveals new logo
The Travel Trust Association
has revealed a new logo,
designed to better reflect the
financial protection it offers
customers. Managing director Simon Hargreaves
said: “The TTA is proud of its record in protecting
customers over the years, and that is something
that will always be core to our existence.” The
association’s 400 members have been given a
year to introduce the logo in their brochures and
until January to use it online.
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