This week in: Featuring Travel Republic, Concorde and Warner Holidays

• Industry leaders threatened an increasingly vocal campaign against amid rising anger at the government. BA chief executive Willie Walsh warned APD rises in November could cost the economy "billions”, while tourist boards also slammed the move and Abta chief executive urged the trade to continue its fight against the tax. Broadcaster Floella Benjamin backed a campaign by MP Sarah Teather to urge the government to rethink the level of APD.

• The was accused of taking "manifestly disproportionate” action against and its managing director Kane Pirie at the summing up of a case at Stratford Magistrates' Court. The online travel agent was accused of breaching Atol regulations in a case it subsequently went on to win.

• Meanwhile, Flo Powell, the new director of the [the former name of Clia UK & Ireland], said the association was drawing up plans to train more agents to attain Ace Ambassador status.

•  spent £35 million buying a second cruise ship, Nordic Prince, from Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, and an undisclosed sum on 11 travel agencies.

• Airlines said they would avert a winter price war with – set to launch in November – by not matching the cross?Channel rail service's tariffs.

• BA suspended its loss-making service between Heathrow and Washington DC after 18 years.

•  said it might water down its new rule aimed at expelling insolvent agents, after being asked to consider a compromise.

• Columnist argued that as the multiples struggled in the wake of the discount war, there had never been a better time for independents to make a stand. "All it takes is guts and confidence,” he said.

• As talks moved closer between Abta, agents and operators on a joint negotiating position on government plans for a reserve fund following 's failure, managing director Wilf Jones attacked the plans, saying it was "wrong to collect a premium from future clients to cover a past loss”.

• Agents reacted angrily to ' plan to cut agency commission from 7.5% to zero in 1975.

•  said it was considering reviving Birmingham-Paris flights after a 20-year gap, while BA hoped to sign up 1,600 agencies to its new marketing scheme, which cost £3.85 a year.

• Meanwhile, Travelnews reported that iced vodka awaited 130 holidaymakers for the firm's first inclusive tour to the then USSR, from South Wales.