POVEY LEAVES COUNCIL
Lunn Poly customer innovations director Peter Povey has resigned from ABTA’s Travel Agents’ Council. The multiple’s head of buying Mark Pritchard has agreed to replace Povey. Any further nominations must reach Newman Street by close of business on Thursday.
SALISBURY TRAVEL FAILS
ABTA has reported the failure of independent agent Salisbury Travel, which had one shop in the Wiltshire town.
EXPEDIA LAW SUIT
On-line auction site Priceline.com is to sue the Expedia travel Web site over its new hotel auction service. Priceline. com says its patent is being infringed by Microsoft, which owns Expedia, and also claims the corporation has made improper use of confidential information gained when the two were in joint marketing discussions earlier in the year.
DELTA AIR LINES SHIFT
Delta Air Lines has severed ties with the Atlantic Excellence alliance which included Swissair, Sabena and Austrian Airlines. The move follows Delta’s creation of a global partnership with Air France and Austrian’s admittance to Star Alliance. Atlantic Excellence agency and corporate sales agreements remain in place until December 31. Codeshare flights end on August 5 2000. Swissair and Sabena plan to attract other carriers into an alliance.
AIR BOTSWANA CRISIS
African regional carrier Air Botswana has been grounded after three of its four-strong fleet were destroyed when a pilot committed suicide by crashing his empty aircraft into two parked turboprops.