Tourism industry
TTG 20th April 2020: ABTA ‘hopeful’ of government action to ease refund crisis
Abta is hopeful that «vital» changes to the Package Travel Regulations (PTRs) to ease the refund burden on the travel sector could be announced when parliament returns on Tuesday (21 April). Link
TTG 20th April 2020: Travel insurance landscape ‘will change’ post – covid – 19
Transparency and clarity will be of utmost importance for travel insurance policies following the coronavirus pandemic, the insurance chief at Holiday Extras has predicted. Link
Travel Weekly 20th April 2020: Comment: We must collaborate on refunds
When we emerge from this crisis, businesses need to be in the best possible shape to recover and resume travelling for business. To make that happen, the entire travel industry needs to be smart and collaborative now. Link
Travel Weekly 20th April 2020: Thomas Cook collapse triggers record £350m in Atol payments
The collapse of Thomas Cook has cost a record amount of almost £350 million in Atol payments. Link
Travel Mole 20th April 2020: Government ‘close’ to announcing industry relief package
The Government is reportedly close to agreeing a £4 billion relief package for the travel industry. Link
Travel Daily Media 20th April 2020: Covid-19 response: 96% of global destinations impose travel restrictions, UNWTO reports
The scale of disruption caused by COVID-19 to global tourism is shown in a comprehensive new report on travel restrictions from the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). Link
Ittn 20th April 2020: UNWTO Report: Travel Restrictions Now Virtually Universal
The scale of disruption caused by Covid-19 to global tourism is shown in a comprehensive new report on travel restrictions from the World Tourism Organisation. Link
TTG 21st April 2020: Repeated virus lockdowns could ‘hike travel prices’
Fluctuating lockdown restrictions could play havoc with capacity across travel. Link
Ittn 21st April 2020: ABTA Provides Further Industry Guidance on Refunds
In the UK, ABTA – The Travel Association has published further guidance for Members and customers on holiday amendments and refunds, as the industry continues to wait for the UK Government to provide clarity and support from its side. Link
Ittn 21st April 2020: #SpainWillWait Video to Consolidate Tourism Loyalty
The national tourism agency responsible for marketing Spain’s destination worldwide, TURESPAÑA, has launched a video titled #SpainWillWait (#EspañaTeEspera)across its social media channels. Link
Ittn 21st April 2020: UNWTO Report: Travel Restrictions Now Virtually Universal
The scale of disruption caused by Covid-19 to global tourism is shown in a comprehensive new report on travel restrictions from the World Tourism Organisation. Link
The Mirror 21st April 2020: Blow to British holidaymakers as Spanish restrictions ‘could last until 2021’
Up to 18 million leave the UK and head to Spain every year but travel plans could stay on hold as Minister of Labour Yolanda Diaz said easing lockdown measures is likely to be done in two phases. Link
Travel Weekly 22nd April 2020: Iata warns of ‘slow’ post-coronavirus recovery
Airline association Iata has warned recovery in demand for air travel will be slow and called on governments to work with the industry on confidence-boosting measures. Link
Travel Weekly 22nd April 2020: Which? suggests ten-point plan to ‘maintain trust’ in travel sector
A ten-point plan is being proposed by consumer group Which? to “maintain trust” in the travel industry as the row over refunds for cancelled holidays and flights escalates. Link
Travel Mole 22nd April 2020: Hospitality industry warns staff could lose 40% of their wages
Hospitality businesses are seeking legal advice over the Government’s scheme for furloughed workers amid fears that staff could lose up to 40% of their regular earnings. Link
NI Travel News 22nd April 2020: #Spainwillwait Video Reminds Holidaymakers of What Awaits Them!
The national tourism agency responsible for marketing Spain’s destination worldwide, TURESPAÑA, has launched a video titled ‘#SpainWillWait’ (España te espera) across its social media channels. Link
Belfast Live 22nd April 2020: Covid-19 devastating tourism with nearly 1,300 staff permanently laid off
A survey by Tourism NI has confirmed the devastating impact of Covid-19 on the hospitality industry. Link
TTG 23rd April 2020: Operator reports enquiries spike from engaged couples
Engaged couples who were forced to cancel their wedding day amid the coronavirus crisis could help revitalise the travel industry with romantic trips. Link
iNews 23rd April 2020: Coronavirus travel advice: latest FCO safety updates for Italy, Spain, France, USA, Norway and beyond
Despite Britain embarking on “at least” another two weeks of lockdown measures, people are already thinking about the potential of summer travel. Link
Independent 23rd April 2020: Canary Islands may welcome summer visitors as ‘world laboratory for tourism safety’
The Canary Islands could re-open to Spanish visitors by August 1st, with international arrivals following in October, according to planning scenarios revealed this week. Link
Travel Mole 23rd April 2020: ABTA chief: ‘We must do all we can to preserve customer confidence’
ABTA is claiming consumer groups are supporting its campaign for clearer Government guidance over refunds. Link
Travel Weekly 24th April 2020: Abta defends refunds guidance after calls to reconsider expiry dates
Abta has defended its guidance on Refund Credit Notes in response to calls from ATD Travel Services founder Oliver Brendon to reconsider its position. Link
Travel Weekly 24th April 2020: Comment: Focus on 18-30 market for post-coronavirus growth
With lockdowns unsurprisingly being extended well into May, everyone in the travel industry knows we are all in this for the long-haul. Link
Travel daily Media 24th April 2020: WTTC calls on G20 tourism ministers to take initiative in Covid-19 recovery
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)
has called upon G20 tourism ministers to lead a united and coordinated recovery
for the sector out of the Covid-19 crisis. Link
Airlines
TTG 20th April 2020: Norwegian Subsidiaries in Scandinavia go bankrupt
Norwegian’s pilot and cabin crew companies in Sweden and Denmark have filed for bankruptcy. Link
Travel Weekly 20th April 2020: Thousands of Norwegian Air jobs threatened as subsidiary firms declare bankruptcy
Four firms which employ 1,571 pilots and 3,134 cabin crew in Denmark and Sweden have filed for bankruptcy, the airline confirmed. Link
Travel Mole 20th April 2020: Loganair negotiating rescue package
Loganair is negotiating a rescue package with the Department of Transport, according to reports. Link
Travel Weekly 21st April 2020: Wizz Air ‘eligible’ for UK Covid Corporate Financing Facility
Wizz Air today revealed that it is able to tap into the UK government’s Covid-19 business support measures. Link
Travel Weekly 22nd April 2020: Airlines press for refunds relief
Aviation minister Kelly Tolhurst is due to write to MPs this week to explain why airlines are failing to pay refunds for cancelled flights. Link
Travel Weekly 22nd April 2020: EasyJet targets Easter 2021 with early release of seats
EasyJet flights for Easter 2021 have been made available from Wednesday after the airline brought forward the on sale date by five months. Link
CityAM 22nd April 2020: Ryanair will not resume flights if middle seat must be left empty, says Michael O’Leary
Ryanair will not resume flights if it is forced to leave the middle seats empty in order to comply with social distancing rules, the budget airline’s chief executive Michael O’Leary said. Link
iNews 22nd April 2020: Coronavirus travel advice: Airlines including British Airways and Ryanair ‘breaking the law’ by delaying refunds
The nation’s 20 biggest airlines and travel operators are “openly breaking the law” by delaying refunds for cancelled trips or denying customers the opportunity to request their money back altogether, a consumer rights group has claimed. Link
Express 22nd April 2020: easyJet flights: Airline launches Easter 2021 sale five months early – will you book?
EASYJET has announced it is launching its Easter 2021 sale a whopping five months early in a bid to give customers the chance to bag cheap flights and give Britons something to look forward to after coronavirus. Link
Travel Weekly 23rd April 2020: EasyJet donates 35,000 in-flight snacks to charities
More than 35,000 surplus items of stock from easyJet’s in-flight retail range have been donated to charities nationwide. Link
Travel Weekly 23rd April 2020: Ryanair chief slams in-flight social distancing as ‘idiotic’
Ryanair will refuse to resume operations if it is forced to leave middle seats empty to comply with potential in-flight social distancing rules. Link
TTG 23rd April 2020: EasyJet donates 35,000 snacks to help NHS Heroes
EasyJet has donated more than 35,000 inflight snacks to the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic. Link
Independent 23rd April 2020: The future of flying? Prototype economy class seats could shield passengers from infection
A social-distancing nightmare, the few airlines that are not grounded are currently considering a host of anti-coronavirus measures, such as leaving middle seats empty, and testing all passengers before boarding. Link
Independent 23rd April 2020: Ryanair apologises amidst vouchers controversy, but insists it is providing «all options»
Customers awaiting refunds have expressed frustration over voucher offers and what they claim are difficulties contacting the airline. Link
Travel Weekly 24th April 2020: Ryanair ordered to be transparent with online fares
Ryanair has been ordered to indicate the full price of tickets when it displays offers on its website following a near decade-long legal battle. Link
Travel Weekly 24th April 2020: Lufthansa faces cash crunch ‘within weeks’
Lufthansa Group faces a cash crunch within weeks as it battles to survive the coronavirus crisis. Link
Travel Weekly 24th April 2020: Jet2 to tap government Covid financial support
The owner of Jet2 and Jet2holidays is investigating state support options after drawing down a £100 million revolving credit facility to counter the coronavirus downturn. Link
Travel Mole 24th April 2020: Global air traffic could fall by 1.2 billion passengers
The United Nations’ aviation body says the Covid-19 pandemic could see air travel demand drop by 1.2 billion travelers by this summer. Link
Travellers/travel agents and travel agencies
The Scotsman 20th April 2020: When can I travel to Tenerife? The latest FCO guidance as Spain relaxes lockdown and UK restrictions extended
Despite Britain embarking on “at least” another three weeks of lockdown measures, people are already thinking about the potential of summer travel. Link
iNews 20th April 2020: When can I travel to Tenerife?? Latest coronavirus travel advice from FCO as Covid-19 outbreak continues
Despite Britain embarking on “at least” another three weeks of lockdown measures, people are already thinking about the potential of summer travel. Link
TTG 21st April 2020: G Adventures launches virtual travel experiences
G Adventures has created a new collection of digital group tours to satisfy traveller’s wanderlust during the coronavirus lockdown. Link
TTG 21st April 2020: ABTA chief writes letter to consumers spelling out refunds crisis
Abta’s chief executive has written an open letter to customers of its members to explain the current situation around refunds and ask for their support. Link
Travel Weekly 21st April 2020: Abta chief pleads for customer support over holiday refunds
The head of Abta today issued a direct plea to customers amid growing public anger over the coronavirus holiday refunds controversy.
Travel Weekly 21st April 2020: Travel Counsellors celebrates third Queen’s Award for Enterprise
Travel Counsellors has won its third Queen’s Award for Enterprise and its second in recognition of its international trade. Link
Travel Weekly 21st April 2020: Kuoni to focus on special occasion holidays and slowly reintroduce sales messages
Kuoni will return to highlighting special occasion holidays as it looks to gradually add tactical sales messages to its marketing. Link
Travel Mole 21st April 2020: Adventure travel companies extend cancellations to mid-August
Adventure tour operators Exodus Travels and Headwater Holidays have extended the suspension of all their tours until August 16. Link
Travel Mole 21st April 2020: Simpson Travel to give 10 free holidays to NHS and care workers
European villa and boutique hotel operator Simpson Travel is offering 10 free holidays to NHS staff and care workers. Link
TG 22nd April 2020: Kuoni: ‘steady stream of people calling about 2021 trips’
Kuoni says it is receiving a «steady stream» of people calling to discuss their 2021 holiday plans, and believes there very much remains «an appetite for travel» despite the ongoing coronavirus crisis. Link
Travel Weekly 22nd April 2020: Travel planning in lockdown ‘leading to bookings return’
New enquiries for worldwide holidays in 2021 have picked up in the past week, according to Kuoni. Link
Travel Weekly 22nd April 2020: Sandals and Beaches creates virtual tours for consumers in lockdown
Virtual tours of Sandals and Beaches resorts have been created for consumers in lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic. Link
iNews 22nd April 2020: Earth Day 2020: the tourism industry calls on travellers to connect
The World Travel & Tourism Council is calling for the public to share travel memories online. Link
The Sun 22nd April 2020: ‘LOCALS FIRST’ No Tenerife holidays for Brits until at least October as tourism bosses ‘want locals to have a break first’
BRIT tourists won’t be allowed back to Tenerife until at least October, island bosses said. Link
Travel Weekly 22nd April 2020: Fred Olsen cancels cruises beyond May 23
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is extending the cancellation of sailings to an unspecified date beyond May 23 in the wake of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Link
TTG 23rd April 2020: Royal Caribbean launches new coronavirus hub for agents
Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCCL) is set to launch a new online information hub for UK and Irish trade partners to support them through the coronavirus crisis. Link
Travel Mole 23rd April 2020: More than half of customers are rebooking, says homeworking group
Just over half of customers of Not Just Travel who have been affected by Covid-19 travel restrictions are rebooking their holiday, according to the homeworking group. Link
Travel Weekly 24th April 2020: Travel firms must emerge from Covid-19 ‘meaner, smaller and more creative’
Travel firms will emerge from the COVID-19 crisis smaller but more creative and leaner than they went in, Steve Endacott of Rebound Consulting told an international online conference yesterday. Link
Travel Weekly 24th April 2020: G Adventures extends suspension of tours
G Adventures is extending the suspension of tours until June 30. Link
Travel Mole 24th April 2020: Jet2 reports ‘very promising’ bookings for summer 2021
Jet2 and Jet2holidays are reporting ‘very promising’ summer 2021 bookings and are seeing ‘encouraging numbers’ of customers rebooking rather than cancelling. Link
Brexit
The telegraph 21st April 2020: Refusing to extend the Brexit deadline is risky but could yield a basic trade deal
Is Boris Johnson betting on a tight Brexit deadline to get him the bare bones trade deal he wants, despite the risk of dramatically compounding the economic damage of the coronavirus pandemic? Link
The telegraph 21st April 2020: Brexit can be done right by extending the transition to make up for the time coronavirus stole
As governments in Britain, Ireland and on the European Continent rightly focus on keeping their citizens alive, media commentary on transition obsesses over whether its impending end will prove a deathblow or secret weapon for negotiations toward a tariff eliminating Free Trade Agreement. Link
The Guardian 24th April 2020: Brexit talks: who is involved and what is being covered?
Brexit talks on the future relationship between the UK and the EU resumed this week after a six-week interruption caused by coronavirus. Link
Express 24th April 2020: Boris Johnson ridiculed by EU bureaucrats over Brexit demands for British sovereignty
BORIS JOHNSON doesn’t understand the meaning of Brexit with his European Union trade plans, Brussels sources have said. Link
Express 24th April 2020: ‘Dead club walking!’ EU WILL collapse to UK demands over no deal Brexit threat – poll
THE «BULLYING» European Union will cave to the UK’s demands for a comprehensive post-Brexit free trade deal, with the creaking eurozone on the verge of collapse from the trillions of pounds being spent on the coronavirus crisis, voters in an Express.co.uk poll have claimed. Link
Competitors
iNews 20th April 2020: When can I travel to Turkey? Latest FCO advice as UK lockdown is extended by ‘at least’ three weeks
Despite Britain embarking on “at least” another three weeks of lockdown measures, people are already thinking about the potential of summer travel. Link
TRT 21st April 2020: Turkey to introduce coronavirus-free certificates for tourist destinations
Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy launches initiative which is due to come into force when pandemic slows to ensure the safety of Turkey’s many tourist sites. Link
TTG 22nd April 2020: Thailand details coronavirus health and safety certification
Thailand is set to introduce new health and safety certification to help rebuild confidence in the country’s travel and tourism sector post-coronavirus. Link
BBC 24th April 2020: Coronavirus: South Africa to ease lockdown restrictions
South Africa’s president has announced an easing of some lockdown restrictions beginning next month, citing economic concerns. Link
Economy
CityAM 21st April 2020: More than £6bn of coronavirus grants given to English businesses
More than £6bn of business grants have been distributed to English small and medium sized businesses through the government’s coronavirus grant schemes. Link
NI Travel News 21st April 2020: Future Connectivity Vital for Northern Ireland’s Economic Recovery
Northern Ireland’s three airports have reportedly began discussions with the government about securing future operations and connectivity with Great Britain and Europe. Link
CityAM 22nd April 2020: Bank governor Andrew Bailey warns against lifting coronavirus measures too quickly
Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has warned against lifting coronavirus lockdown measures too fast and putting people’s safety at risk in a bid to boost the economy. Link
BBC 22nd April 2020: Coronavirus: Tory backbenchers want lockdown eased soon
A «very tense» meeting of senior backbench Conservative MPs has heard concerns that the coronavirus lockdown could devastate the economy. Link
Independent 22nd April 2020: Economy will take two years to come back from coronavirus crash – Donohoe
The economy in Ireland could bounce back from the massive shock caused by the coronavirus crisis in the space of two years – but it will depend on the success of efforts to combat the disease here and abroad. Link
CityAM 23rd April 2020: UK economy suffers unprecedented slump amid coronavirus lockdown
The UK economy suffered an unprecedented blow in April as the coronavirus lockdown choked off demand, according to a closely watched gauge which slumped to its lowest level since records began. Link
CityAM 23rd April 2020: Bank of England policymaker: UK economy in worst slump ‘in centuries’
The UK economy is experiencing the fastest and deepest contraction in “the past century or possibly several centuries,” a Bank of England rate-setter has said. Link
CityAM 23rd April 2020: Firms ‘still missing out’ as coronavirus loans double to £2.8bn
Banks have provided £1.45bn worth of loans for businesses hit by the coronavirus in the last week, but industry figures warn firms still risk missing out. Link
BBC 23rd April 2020: Coronavirus: Why fractious EU still believes together is better
EU leaders are expected to sign off on a new €540bn (£470bn; $575bn) emergency fund to protect European workers, businesses and countries worst affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Link
Sky News 23rd April 2020: Coronavirus: The towns most economically at risk from coronavirus pandemic
Wales could be the most affected region once the coronavirus pandemic is over, new research suggests. Link
The Spectator 24th April 2020: Could the Covid crisis be an economic opportunity for Brexit Britain?
The way we buy and sell things will change. Link
Unemployment
BBC 21st April 2020: Coronavirus: NI employment rate near record high before lockdown
NI’s unemployment rate increased slightly in the three months to February, according to figures for the period before the coronavirus lockdown hit the economy. Link
BBC 21st April 2020: UK employment rate at record high before lockdown
UK employment was estimated at a record high in the three months to February, before the effects of the coronavirus lockdown started to hit the economy. Link
Travel Weekly 23rd April 2020: Thousands of UK jobs threatened by extended cruise industry shutdown
More than 5,500 UK jobs could be at risk as the result of an extended shutdown of the cruise industry due to the coronavirus crisis. Link
TTG 23rd April 2020: Clia: Cruise suspension costing 139 UK Jobs a day
Clia has warned that every additional day cruising is suspended owing to the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic is likely to cost the UK economy 139 jobs. Link
