We take a look through the Travel Weekly archives in our 50th year to find out what was making the headlines 10, 25 and 45 years ago.
August 7, 2009
• Agents and operators reported a tough lates market, with the much-hoped-for last-minute rush failing to materialise, while Thomas Cook said it was prepared to resume redundancy talks after regaining possession of its Grafton Street branch in Dublin after a five-day sit-in by workers.
• Celebrity Eclipse, with its promise of British dishes such as mushy peas and steak and kidney pie, became the best-booked ship in Celebrity Cruises’ fleet even though sailings were not to start until April 2010.
• Totally Travel Limited, holding company for 1st4cruising.com and headed by industry veteran Harry Goodman, joined Hays Travel Independence Group.
• British Airways reported a loss of £148 million for the three months to June, while figures from other carriers were equally “shocking” as the crisis in aviation appeared to deepen.
July 27, 1994
• UK charter airlines held emergency talks in Greece to resolve long delays in Athens, Corfu and Crete airports due to a shortage of baggage handlers.
• The National Association of Independent Travel Agents opened its annual conference in Monte Carlo to non-members. Managing director Ron Muir said several non-member agents and operators had asked to attend.
• Avis Europe pipped rival Hertz in the multimillion-pound race to become Airtours’ global car rental provider in a deal worth £8 million a year. Meanwhile, Shearings sales and marketing director Trevor Davis chastised agents for excluding coach holidays in their window displays.
• Holiday Autos was set to become a limited company on August 1. Co-directors Nick Stolberg, Clive Jacobs and Gary Bacon were set to be made chairman, chief executive and technical director respectively.
July 25, 1974
• The Civil Aviation Authority moved to plug holes in air travel organisers’ licensing and the bonding system following the financial failure of operator Westernjet and Yorkshire non-Abta operator Ghornes Travel. It was reported that in future the period of the bond required from Atol applicants would coincide with the period of the licence while the Civil Aviation Authority said it would make public the names of Atol-holders whose renewal applications had been refused.
• Thomas Cook was announced as the worldwide trading name as part of the firm’s new image, with the ‘& Son’ appendage disappearing where possible.
• The trade was warned to expect a further fuel surcharge increase for 1974-75 tour programmes, while tourist services in Greece and Turkey began to return to normal following the ceasefire in Cyprus.