Economy

Why a new battle of the big three bodes well for agents

With demand and prices riding high, Gary Noakes discovers how package giants Tui, Jet2holidays and easyJet holidays hope to boost their market shares

Travel warned it must embrace flexibility to attract new talent

The industry needs to give newcomers a more flexible life-work balance if it wants to attract more talent, according to the European Commission’s Pantour consortium

Last-minute bookings soar as Brits wait to commit amid higher costs of living

Research published by PTCs shows that bookings surged 30% in April and May as Brits wait for have enough money before buying a holiday

Spending with agents and airlines continues to outpace all other sectors

Transaction growth with airlines and travel agents highest of all sectors in May, according to Barclays

Heathrow and IHG among founder members of new business council

Airport and hotel giant among frontrunners ‘to design and drive the future of the British economy’

Quarter of Brits avoiding travel insurance due to cost, data finds

Around 3.2 million British tourists said they didn’t get travel insurance as it is too expensive

Ryanair grows market share ahead of ‘largest-ever’ summer schedule

Chief executive Michael O’Leary forecast ‘enormous growth opportunities’ as the budget carrier posts its financial results for the year to 31 March

More than £15 million lost to holiday fraud last year

According to Action Fraud, an emerging trend is fraudsters using counterfeit Atol protect numbers on their fake webpage

Advantage conference: Agents told to maximise ripe market opportunities

Professor Trevor Williams told Advantage delegates on Sunday (21 Mya) that there are plenty of business opportunities even despite the current economic shocks

‘Travel can't afford to be forgotten again when the next crisis comes’

Advantage Travel Partnership chief Julia Lo Bue-Said reflects on consortium’s Westminster lobby effort during wide-ranging conference address

Travel rebounds again in April but sector’s recruitment woes continue

According to Lloyds Bank, travel and hospitality were less concerned about the future impact of inflation, and more optimistic about future output growth

Tui eyes 'profitable UK growth' through higher value products

Speaking after the company published its financial results for the second financial quarter (three months to 31 March 2023), Tui chief Sebastian Ebel said the business will utilises all of its brands to increase its UK market share

Brits continue to prioritise holiday spending despite inflation

Spend with airlines increased by 32.1% year-on-year in April, a slight uplift compared with March (28.5%)

‘Exceptional’ Q1 bookings help RCG upgrade 2023 profit projections

It comes after this year’s wave period started earlier and extended further, generating a record level of bookings

BA parent returns to profit for the first time since 2019

The encouraging start to the year for International Airlines Group (IAG) is set to continue into the summer with around 80% of expected quarter-two revenue now booked

Travel and tourism sector GDP closing in on 2019 peak, data reveals

According to new statistics from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the industry will be 5% off 2019 levels by the end of 2023

Holiday spending outperforms all other UK sectors in March

Spending on holidays and travel continues to see year-on-year growth, according to new stats from Nationwide

BA parent's Air Europa bid reportedly set to face lengthy EU probe

The deal may even be blocked over fears it could lead to higher ticket prices

Scottish aviation flight school ceases trading after 53 years

Tayside Aviation Flight School confirmed on Thursday (20 April) administrators had been appointed

Holiday Extras reportedly considering stock market floatation

Holiday essentials firm mulling a move to go public five years after it staged a management buyout, Sky News reports

Travel M&A activity ‘gaining momentum’ and expected to accelerate this year

CAA’s proposed changes to the Atol scheme cited as one reason for long-time business owners looking to sell up

Seven trends that have defined travel selling in 2023 so far

TTG and PwC’s trade and consumer surveys identify some of the positive – and negative – trends that have characterised travel sales so far this year

Tourism sector one of the UK's ‘strongest performing’ industries

Strong activity in the sector follows a recent surge in holiday bookings, Lloyds Bank reported

‘The UK will likely face flat growth but shouldn’t enter a recession’

The Barclays Travel Forum heard that while consumers feel they have less money, it’s not stopping them from spending on large purchases