Informe semanal de noticias del mercado británico de la Oficina de Turismo de Tenerife en Londres
- Brexit
BBC, 29 March 2019: Last chance to guarantee 22 May delay, MPs told
MPs have been told they face their «last opportunity» to ensure the Brexit process is extended to 22 May and bring certainty to people and businesses. The attorney general said any further extension past 12 April would be «subject to the veto» of 27 EU leaders. MPs will be asked to approve only part of the PM’s Brexit deal, the withdrawal agreement, covering the terms of exit. Labour said separating that from the political declaration would mean voting on a «blindfold Brexit». Link
BBC, 28 March 2019: No majority for any options after MPs’ votes
None of MPs’ eight proposed Brexit options have secured clear backing in a series of votes in the Commons. The options – which included a customs union with the EU and a referendum on any deal – were supposed to help find a consensus over how to leave the EU. Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay said the results strengthened ministers’ view their deal was «the best option». The results capped a dramatic Wednesday in which Theresa May promised to stand down as PM if her deal was passed. Link
Telegraph, 27 March 2019: Theresa May vows to stand down if deal is passed
Theresa May has promised Tory MPs she will quit if they back her Brexit deal. She told backbench Tories: «I am prepared to leave this job earlier than I intended in order to do what is right for our country and our party.» The PM said she knew that Tory MPs did not want her to lead the next phase of Brexit negotiations «and I won’t stand in the way of that». Link
Travel Weekly, 27 March 2019: Short-term Brexit delay ‘worst scenario for trade’
According to senior industry figure, a short delay to Brexit would be a “disaster” for this summer’s peak travel period. The EU agreed an extension to either April 12 or May 22 last week, but it appeared increasingly likely the deadline would be pushed back closer to June – the height of the late-booking period. Link
Travel Mole, 26 March 2019: EasyJet emails Brexit advice to passengers
EasyJet has begun emailing passengers to reassure them that their flights will continue as normal in the event of a no-deal Brexit. With just days to go until Britain’s intended departure from the EU and no agreement reached, easyJet is telling customers that regardless of the outcome of negotiations, its services won’t be affected. Link
Travel Weekly, 25 March 2019: Brexit uncertainty ‘boosting UK Easter breaks’
Almost three quarters of people say Brexit is the reason they plan to holiday in the UK rather than abroad this Easter, a new poll reveals. Uncertainly surrounding Brexit means that the number of people expecting to take a domestic break over Easter has almost doubled to 67% from 34% in 2018. Link
- Tourism industry
TTG Luxury, 28 March 2019: Sector urged to adapt to consumer trends
The days of operators “dictating what customers wanted” from a luxury holiday are behind us, with today’s high-end holidaymaker preferring a more emotionally driven, value-focused booking process. That was the message from a panel of luxury suppliers, travel analysts and branding experts at Abta’s Luxury Travel Conference in London last week. Link
Travel Mole, 29 March 2019: 320 jobs to go in latest Thomas Cook cull
More than 300 jobs will go at Thomas Cook as it plans to close another 21 stores. Thomas Cook is expecting to make 218 shop staff redundant and lay off another 102 other customer-facing staff. Link
- Airlines
TTG, 29 March 2019: Tui forecasts €200m hit from 737 MAX grounding
Tui says the grounding of Boeing’s 737 MAX aircraft will likely cost the group around €200 million and dent its full-year earnings by nearly 20% – which could rise to more than a quarter. Link
Travel Weekly, 29 March 2019: Wow Air: Airlines offer rescue fares to 10,000 stranded passengers
A group of airlines have issued rescue fares to help repatriate an estimated 10,000 passengers stranded on both sides of the Atlantic by the collapse of Wow Air. Aer Lingus, Norwegian, Virgin Atlantic, Icelandair, easyJet and Wizz Air are among carriers offering discounted rates to affected Wow Air passengers. Link
Travel Weekly, 29 March 2019: Five UK airlines face legal action over ‘toxic air’ in cabins
Five UK airlines face legal action as a union called on the industry to take urgent action to tackle toxic cabin air. Lawsuits have been served by the Unite union in 51 court cases involving pilots and cabin crew working for easyJet, British Airways, Thomas Cook Airlines, Jet2 and Virgin Atlantic. Link
TTG, 28 March 2019: WOW Air cancels all flights and ceases operations
WOW Air has cancelled all its flights and ceased operations, it has been confirmed. The Icelandic budget carrier made the announcement just hours after stating it was in the “final stages” of securing fresh investment. Link
- Travellers and travel agents
Travel Weekly, 28 March 2019: Summer staycation searches and bookings ‘up by a third’
More British holidaymakers are opting to take domestic breaks this summer instead of travelling abroad, new research claims. The increasing trend for staycations comes amid Brexit uncertainty along with hopes for a repeat of last summer’s record-breaking heatwave.