Menu
In the case of Ryanair – CEO Michael O’Leary has waxed hot + cold over the value of package holiday providers for years. Back in May, he claimed ‘not to want the distraction’, so why would he be expressing interest in entering that market now? Yield control and enhancement appears to be one answer, but not before 2034 when FR’s enlarged fleet (still in its lengthy + difficult delivery phase) has pursued a successful period of route/passenger growth. For now, we are left with an open question.
In other news, ‘eSky Group, owner of a leading travel platform in Central and Eastern Europe, has bought Thomas Cook from the Fosun Tourism Group, except its business in China, for an undisclosed sum’. This will provide the Cook brand with access to huge air seat inventory and access to the strongest markets in Western Europe. So, what is my lingering question regarding what looks like being a win /win outcome for Thomas Cook – the brand? It’s one I’m asking in a genuinely positive way, because a strong and resurgent Cooks would be good for the travel business in general. I just wonder if the Thomas Cook brand has come under too much change, stress and distress in recent years, and if our new generation of knowlegable and discerning travel consumers understands or even remembers the ‘ethos’, or if they have long-since moved on?
Mastercard +VISA may face ‘class action’ over ‘anti-competitive’ card fees
It may well prove valuable for SPAA Members to follow the progress of this emerging story and the potential for a ‘class action’ to go to the UK Courts. The issues involved are certainly relevant to many travel businesses and the claim ‘has been endorsed by leading trade bodies including UK Hospitality and the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA)’ according to the Class Representatives. The story includes a link to web information on how to claim.
EU re-imposes cabin-baggage liquid limits
What’s going on with scanner technology?
The EU announcement follows similar action in the UK, leaving some airports with expensive new scanners that are not being used; travellers with additional hassle + of course, already hard-pressed travel agents with a new communication challenge.
According to the EU, the performance of the new scanners ‘did not meet the standard for which it had been approved’. No further details have emerged and no date has been offered in connection with a return to use of the scanners, either here in the UK or in Europe. System resilience needs to be so much stronger – without question.
CONNECTIVITY + SUSTAINABILITY NEWS
American Airlines to return to EDI with 2025 seasonal service to Philly (PHL)
Back in Scotland’s capital for the first time since 2019 the first flight ex Edinburgh departs May 24 and the service, on a Boeing 787-800, will end on October 5. Read News Release here
Virgin Atlantic to fly to Saudi Arabia, Ghana and Canada in 2025
VS will start new routes from LHR to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia + Accra, Ghana in March + May 2025 respectively. This follows the airline’s announcement that it will operate to Canada for the first time in a decade, when itsToronto flights commence on March 30, 2025. Read more here
Loganair joins with Swedish company Heart Aerospace in project to develop electric-powered aircraft
The ES-30 aircraft (carrying up to 30 passengers) is planned to decarbonise air travel for Loganair passengers flying within its extensive Scottish + UK network – with a target date of 2040. Luke Farajallah, chief executive at Loganair, has commented “This exclusive collaboration with Heart Aerospace brings together two organisations who share a passion to see aviation emissions reduce in a realistic and meaningful way, and we definitely see the ES-30 as being a strong contender to emerge as one of the leaders in this space.” Read on here
LOBBYING + OTHER ACTIVITY NEWS
First Cruise Coalition Roundtable takes place, following FM’s comment on Levy / Future Travel Coalition finalising letter to UK Chancellor in advance of Budget
The first of the planned Cruise Coalition Roundtables takes place today, in the wake of of a reference to the proposed Cruise Levy (tax) by Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney in his Programme for Government statement to Parliament at Holyrood.
Although the statement did not include a direct reference to cruise, the Programme itself makes reference to it by confirming the Government will “intensify work on designing a cruise ship levy and undertake the necessary public consultation.” As we have mentioned in previous editions – the public consultation is likely to occur later in the year, following our Coalition’s engagement with Government at our Roundtables.
It’s worth reminding ourselves – when we read that New Zealand has just announced the tripling of its IVL International Visitor Levy (tax) to £47 per person – that any such levy, once introduced and its collection has bedded down, is open to becoming a ‘cash cow’ for its recipient body (Government or otherwise).
In every instance – lobbying assertively against introduction in the first place is vital, with the back-up of advocating strongly for ring-fencing of any collected revenues, if the levy’s introduction cannot be prevented.
Today’s an appropriate day to Sparkle for an elite group of SPAA travel agent members, as the 2024 Sparkle Awards Lunch gets under way in Edinburgh’s Caledonian Hotel.
Watch out for your SPAA Event Extra with all the details, including the Winners, lots of pictures and
and other news – coming very soon!
IMPORTANT | Seats for the Networking Lunch and Exhibitor spaces are filling up fast, so please email and register without delay … don’t miss these excellent events!
It was intriguing to read about the agreement between easyJet + Virgin Atlantic to team up for a ‘pilot-swop’ later this year. Apparently, a group of 20 easyJet Airbus A320 Captains will be seconded to Virgin Atlantic’s A350 fleet as First Officers for up to 3 years to learn to operate the state-of-the-art aircraft, returning to easyJet at the end of the programme. It sounds like a fantastic example of a skills-development initiative – and I’m guessing the easyJet pilots won’t miss the 25 minute aircraft turn-rounds! You can read more here
Returning to the subject of ‘more questions than answers’ a BBC News report suggests that ‘term-time absence’ school fines are not proving to be a universal deterrent to families, as parents continue to face high cost-of-living pressures – holidays costs being an example.
As we know only too well, school holiday time pricing has been an issue in travel for many
years, and I have often wondered why a 100 lines on ‘what I did on my holidays’ would not be a sensible educational alternative to fines. It’s actually a serious point – few would dispute that travel broadens the mind and promotes mutual understanding, and with some ingenuity around the ‘what I did …’ report idea, it should be encouraged, at least on a limited basis. Some mitigation of ‘dynamic pricing’ during school holidays would surely be no bad thing either?
Have a restful, relaxing weekend, #Staysafe and take care, you and yours!
All the best ~
Jac
Jac Dobson – SPAA President
Working with our members and associate members, our principals, we’re here to ensure that the voice of the Scottish travel professional is heard.
All content copyright© The SPAA and our licensed sources. All rights reserved.