p2 dec12 10/12/08 21:17 Page 2
Stansted protest was
a gimmick, but we
news
must still shout back
INCONSIDERATE, lazy, misguided, pathetic.
These are just some of words used by people in
the industry to describe climate change protesters
who caused chaos at Stansted on Monday.
This group appears to believe that firing yet
another cheap shot at air travel is going to have a
profound impact.
Instead, their gimmick appears to have done
this week
nothing to raise awareness and everything to incite
a rather sizeable feeling of world-weariness.
Whether from the some 7,000 passengers whose
travel plans were disrupted or ruined (including
two trying to attend loved ones’ funerals), or the
industry itself.
Travel accepts this is a serious business but P
A
Photos
knows that only international co-operation on
carbon emissions will have any meaningful effect.
Greek tragedy
We understand these are idealistic young people, Fire rages outside the Athens Academy as civil unrest erupted in the Greek capital
frustrated by what they see as a lack of progress to and in Corfu and Crete this week. On Wednesday a strike caused 20 flights,
halt climate change. including those run by easyJet, British Airways and Olympic, to be cancelled
But there is no recognition of the hard work the
industry is doing, such as bringing in more efficient Conference. Hays Travel.
aircraft and driving higher load factors. ITT 2009 near to ‘sell-out’ p4 Booking tool pledge p14
Activists are threatening to repeat the stunt at The spiralling cost of hotel rooms Hays Travel Independence Group
Heathrow to prevent the building of a third runway. for next year’s Dubai event does not members are to be given free
But even transport secretary Geoff Hoon has appear to be putting off delegates access to what the consortium
pointed out that would merely drive people to take claimed is the most advanced
more regional flights, not dissuade them from flying Tour operations. booking technology on the
altogether. Co-op in Cosmos tie-up? p5 market
Stopping carbon emissions for a few hours at a The Co-operative Travel’s new tour
UK regional airport on a chilly December morning is operation is understood to be a Cruise.
not the way to save the planet. joint venture with Cosmos, one Cunard defends sale p19
But we must still do everything we can to of the UK’s largest tour operators Cruise operator Cunard has
counter the protesters’ arguments in case after the big two defended its promotional sale,
the government is ever convinced travel saying it does not devalue the
should restrict its activities and growth (the Protests. brand, just as Harrods’ annual
UK is now considered to be seriously behind Stansted activists attack p6 sale does not undermine the
in its nuclear power development Environmental activists who broke reputation of the world-famous
because of environmental protesters’ through fences at Stansted were London store
arguments 10 years ago). accused of ignoring the benefits
Travel does not want to end up a aviation brings to poor countries Air.
pariah like the tobacco industry, Extra charges warning p22
which now faces becoming a Acquisition. No-frills airlines are reaching
below-the-counter trade for Resorthoppa: new owner p7 the limit of passengers’ tolerance
those unable to kick the habit. Lowcost Travel Group is confident on charges for ancillary products,
As TTG’s new campaign says, travel that a deal to buy Resorthoppa will aviation industry leaders were
does give back (p6) and the public be completed in early January warned at a conference on the
needs to hear the other side of the future of the aviation industry
argument. Merger.
TTA shares its Atol p9 SECTORS.
Worldchoice members will soon Cruise p18
Lucy Huxley Editor be able to dynamically package Operators p20
under the TTA’s group Atol Air p22
02 12.12.2008
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