| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 19/06/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 1 |
| Copyright: Other |
BA Holidays
On-line rivals force BA amalgamation
GROWINGcompetition from on-line travel firms has forced British Airways to bring its BAHolidays subsidiary under the control of the airline’s leisure sales division.The move has resulted in BA Holidays managing director Roger Heape taking retirement in October after nine years and head of sales UKand Ireland leisure Tricia Warwick leaving after four years.
BA said the amalgamation will allow it to offer one package of flights and holidays to customers through its Web site, over the telephone and via agents.
The airline will also be able to approach on-line firms offering a single package instead of the carrier and BA Holidays negotiating separately.
General manager leisure sales Robin Hayes will head up the new division. Warwick’s sales team, responsible for dealing with tour operators, agents and consolidators, will also come under the control of Hayes’ division.
Hayes said BAneeded to get more commercially focused on its leisure business. “This is something we should have done five years ago.”
The new division will look after flight-only and package sales through agents, tour operators, specialist agents, BA travel agents, BA telesales, the airline Web site and BA Holidays.
Hayes said BA Holidays will stay in Crawley and no redundancies are expected. “We will look to grow BA Holidays, with e-commerce as a huge focus,” he said.
Heape, who stays on to help BA find his replacement, confirmed BA Holidays will continue operating as a separate profit centre. The tour operation will also have to compete for BA seats with other operators.
Agents’ commission on BA Holidays’ sales will not be affected by BA’s decision to axe commission next January.
Roger Heape: will stay on until a replacement is found