GTMC at the Savoy

Norman Baker, Under Secretary of State for Transport (Liberal Democrat member for Lewis) was in a conciliatory mood when he addressed members of the Guild of Travel Management Companies (GTMC), at the newly re-launched (and very impressive) London Savoy last Monday.  He said that he understood air travel with Gatwick within his catchment area, repeated the now familiar government line that Heathrow expansion was out for this Parliament, and used the latest ploy of Ministers, saying he would answer questions.  After a short while he had to leave “due to urgent business in the Commons”.

Members raised the ‘per plane tax’ question Mr Baker applying a ‘straight bat’.  He said there was no way that the Transport Review could be brought forward. 

In a keynote speech Tony Collins of Virgin Trains emphasised that rail franchises required extension in order to quantify the outlay.  Virgin would bid for the East Coast operation and gave some impressive figures regarding “16 years of investment.”

In a session devoted to “Air Matters” Richard Tams, Head of Sales BA UK, noted that Heathrow was loosing out to Europe in terms of destinations offered and would soon be behind Istanbul.  LHR is number seven with Frankfurt first according to OAG. Clive Wratten, Etihad’s Country Manager said that he saw APD doing damage to the UK’s airline industry. www.gtmc.org

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