| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 19/06/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 6 |
| Copyright: Other |
Urbanweb to add Flights by Phone range
CALL-centre operator Urbanweb is to start selling flight-only product as it continues to expand its sales range.Flights by Phone will stand alongside the company’s existing Holidays byPhone operation and aims to carry 30,000 passengers in its first year.
It will be headed by Jennie Coats, who previously ran Airtours’ flight-only operation.
Urbanweb managing director, Steve Endacott, said both scheduled and charter seats will be offered with a 30-strong telesales team taking calls direct from the public.
“We have plans to double the team within the year,” he said.
He added that the opportunity lies in selling charter seats.
“Flight only is an unemotional purchase and will be the first to migrate to the Web,” said Endacott. “The scheduled seat market on the Web is already well developed but the charter market is not. It gives us a great opportunity.”
Deals have already been struck with Avro, Unijet and Gold Medal.
Meanwhile, Endacott defended Urbanweb’s recruitment policy which he claimed had been criticised by rivals.
The Manchester-based operation offers cash payments to encourage employees to leave their jobs in order to join up with it.
“We want the best staff and are willing to pay cash upfront to get them,” said Endacott.
“If our competitors do not like the situation they should make sure their own staff are happy.”