AIRTOURS IN EC PLEA
Airtours has told the European Commission the industry will not become anti-competitive if it is allowed to take over First Choice. The operator submitted its case to the EC during a two-day hearing in Brussels last week. The EC is expected to make a decision on whether to block the bid by October.
DISNEY APPOINTMENT
Walt Disney has appointed Andrew Waller as UK director of its newly created in-house tour operator, the Walt Disney Travel Company. Waller has been working on the project as a consultant since January.
BA SET FOR SKOPJE
British Airways has been granted rights to serve the Macedonian capital Skopje.
Flights are expected to start this winter from either Heathrow or Gatwick.
GATWICK CONSULTATION
Gatwick has given surrounding local authorities until September 30 to comment on a draft airport strategy for dealing with an expected 10m extra passengers by 2008. The BAA-owned airport handles 30m customers, but rising demand will push this to 40m. Gatwick is proposing extensions to both North and South terminals, improved public transport links and extra stands for larger aircraft.
TIPTO SIGNS UP AGENTS
TheTruly Independent Professional Travel Organisation has signed up 900 out of the 2,000 independent travel agents its 29 tour operator members want as partners. Vice-chairman Gary David said it was important to get agents to agree to work with TIPTO before it kicks off its series of promotional visits, seminars and roadshows in September.