Dnata has confirmed that a legal agreement has been reached that will block five former executives from starting with rival operator If Only until April 1, 2018.
Confirmation of the start date comes after an out of court settlement between the two sides after dnata Travel initiated legal proceedings.
Managing director Andy Freeth, sales and marketing director Gordon McCreadie, product and commercial director Matt Appleby, head of sales Tracy Docherty and business manager for Travel 2 David Irving resigned on the same day in June.
All but Freeth, who was due to start in December, had been expected to start at If Only last month, but it emerged legal action had delayed this.
A statement said: “The Global Travel Group Limited, Stella Travel Services (UK) Limited, Gold Medal Travel Group PLC, Travel 2 Limited and dnata Travel Holdings UK Limited have reached a settlement with Andrew Freeth, Gordon McCreadie, Matthew Appleby, David Irving, Tracy Docherty and If Only Holidays Limited in relation to litigation concerning the departure of Mr Freeth, Mr McCreadie, Mr Appleby, Mr Irving and Ms Docherty from the dnata group of companies and their proposed new employment with If Only Holidays Limited.
“As part of this settlement, it has been agreed that Mr Freeth, Mr McCreadie, Mr Appleby, Mr Irving and Ms Docherty will not commence employment with (or have any involvement in) If Only Holidays Limited until 1 April 2018 and If Only Holidays is prohibited from employing any staff currently working for The Global Travel Group Limited, Stella Travel Services (UK) Limited, Gold Medal Travel Group PLC, Travel 2 Limited and dnata Travel Holdings UK Limited until 1 April 2018.”
Since the resignations, dnata Travel Europe has rebuilt its management team with a new role for former Gold Medal managing director Stave Barrass and the appointment’s of former lastminute.com managing director John Bevan, Silversea Cruises mananging director Lisa McAuley and Attraction World’s sales and marketing director Nick Hughes all taking key B2B roles.