Report by
Jeremy Skidmore
ABTA
president Stephen Bath is to condemn the policy of discounting and plead with
the industry to stop throwing away its profits.
In his
opening speech at the ABTA convention, Bath will say price cuts during January
are unnecessary.
His
comments will echo those of First Choice chief executive Peter Long, who said
widespread discounting was destroying the industry (Travel Weekly, June
26).
Bath will
say there is a strong case for sensible pricing this January because the
economy is strong, inflation low and European air passenger duty is being
slashed from £10 to £5 on holiday flights from April 1.