| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 07/08/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 1 |
| Copyright: Other |
Eurotunnel axes Sandral contract
Cross-Channel company ends tour operator arrangement with French Life
Specialist accused of breaching ticket sales rules
Report by JEREMY SKIDMORE and STEVE JONES
EUROTUNNEL has ripped up its tour operator contract with French Life after catching the company breaching the rules on ticket sales.The move is a serious blow to French Life and highly embarrassing for chairman Warren Sandral as he is also chairman of the Association of British Tour Operators to France.
Sources at Eurotunnel, which is clamping down on companies that break the rules on sales, said French Life had sold inclusive tour tickets without accommodation.
Operators are offered inclusive tour tickets at up to 30% cheaper than ordinary tickets on the strict understanding that they sell them only as part of a package.
French Life can still sell Eurotunnel as an agent but no longer has access to discounted fares, putting it at a disadvantage with its competitors.
AEurotunnel spokeswoman said:”I can confirm the tour operator contract with French Life was terminated on July 31 but this does not affect its position as an agent. There are no plans to reinstate the contract.”
The spokeswoman refused to comment further on the French Life case but said:”We keep a close eye on the operators that work with us. We are very keen to clamp down on anyone breaching the rules. There are very clearly defined terms and conditions with tickets and if you don’t respect them we will take action.”
Sandral claimed there had been a misunderstanding between the companies. He said: “We have not been selling tickets separately from the package.”
ABTOF committee member Simon Tobin, who is managing director of Keycamp, said:”If you abuse the rules, you deserve to face the consequences. I congratulate Eurotunnel for the stance it has taken.”
Tobin conceded the decision was an embarrassment for Sandral but did not feel it made his position on ABTOF untenable.
“I’m not sure you can blame the chairman for something that happens in the day-to-day running of the company. I expect it will be cleared up.”
Eurotunnel: has no plans to reinstate itscontract with French Life
Sandral: claimed a misunderstanding had prompted Eurotunnel to terminate its tour operator contract with French Life