"Dream the Dream..."

With most of the local travel news focusing on the fall out from the cessation of Goldtrail Travel, the Farnborough air show is running the risk of passing almost unnoticed...

But this show has some positive news for travellers and the travel industry alike, not for the unveiling of the Airbus 400 transporter (although it is an amazing plane), but instead for the long awaited introduction to the "all new" Boeing 787 Dreamliner...

But why is this so important? Not only is this "new breed" of aircraft lighter and more efficient (allowing it to travel longer and further) but the first one to be bought is by TUI, showing that Europe's main package holiday supplier has faith that people will ignore the current economic situation to continue booking their services...

Travelmole reports that "Dubbed “the limousine of the skies”, the plane offers passengers more space, wider aisles and seats and a smoother and quieter flight. It is also highly fuel-efficient. Windows are much bigger than on regular passenger jets and there is a LED lighting system which mimics sunrise and sunset to help passengers acclimatise to new time zones...

TUI is to take delivery of the 787 this year and will be the first UK airline to fly the plane. The lighter plane can cover longer distances in one go and TUI has predicted boosts in interest to destinations such as Borneo, Bali, Hawaii and Mauritius...

British Airways, meanwhile, has ordered 24 of the new aircraft which will join its long haul fleet from 2012. It said its design team is already working on developing the 787’s interior which will have a premium feel throughout the cabin..."

Positivity in a week of "Doom and Gloom" I'm sure you will agree...

Read more at

Barticus..

"Too much Turkey, and not even Christmas..."

Yet more bad news for British travellers with the news that Turkey and Greece holiday specialist Goldtrail Travel has ceased trading as of today leaving many potential holiday makers without their summer breaks, as well as many more (estimated at 15,000) stranded in Turkey and Greece..

There also appears to be bigger problems yet to come, with the news that Goldtrail Travel booked hotel rooms via a third party, therefore meaning that those with holidays booked, in effect, still have accommodation booked, but without flights to get them there..

BBC News report that "Greece and Turkey specialist Goldtrail, based in New Malden, south-west London, went into administration on Friday with an estimated 16,000 customers overseas. The CAA said it was arranging to fly customers home after their holidays and there were no more outbound flights. Goldtrail customers can call the CAA on 0203 4410846 for information..

Though the company went into administration on Friday afternoon, some of Goldtrail's customers were not told until they were due to board their flights on Friday evening..

Mark McLay arrived at Glasgow airport for a 2045 BST flight but was not told of the company's demise until the early hours of Saturday, long after he and his girlfriend had already checked in for his plane to Bodrum in Turkey.

"At 0100 BST we were called together and told over the tannoy that Goldtrail had gone into administation, that we would not be flying and that we would be escorted out of the building," he said.

"One woman was crying and it was bad for the families although everyone took it as well as could be expected."

The CAA said flights home from Turkey would operate as normal but holidaymakers in Greece were warned to expect changes. Those in Greece are advised to check with representatives at local airports. The company used charter airlines such as Onurair, Turquois and Viking.

It is thought that as many as 50,000 holidaymakers who have booked flights over the summer will be affected by the company's collapse."

With stranded holiday makers being assured that all extra costs incurred will be covered by the CAA, help MUST be given to those that still have accommodations booked, and are being offered flights for upwards of £2000 each..

Yet more worry for travellers this summer as we are left considering the potential cost of booking any holiday..

Follow this news at

Barticus.

Bad day for monster lovers...

This is not some kind of wierd love story, but instead the reported demise of "Monster Travel.."

TravelMole's Bev Fearis reports that "ABTA has issued a warning to agents who are advertising for customers to rebook following the cessation of Monster Travel.

It reminded agents that because Monster Travel was a managed branch of The Freedom Travel Group, Freedom will be honouring all bookings.

"If members encourage customers to rebook they will have been double-booked and may look to the member for recompense," it warned.

On Facebook and other social media websites, some agents criticised rival companies for acting like vultures by being so quick to place Google ads.

They also expressed their sadness for the staff of Monster Travel, particularly for those who had joined the company after losing their jobs at Freedom Direct.

Online and call centre travel agency Monster Travel ceased trading yesterday after just over two years in business. The company, part of the Freedom Travel Group, employed 94 people. Only last April the company had a major recruitment drive for an extra 40 staff. Some of those who got the jobs were ex-employees of Freedom Direct Holidays, which had ceased a week earlier.

Ironically, at the time the Monster managing director David Hawke, said it was a "sad indictment of the times" that the firm had received 500 applications in just three days for the new jobs.

Hawke, formerly head of call centre business for TUI, founded Monster Travel with his partner Julie Gilmore.


Jane Atkins, managing director of The Freedom Travel Group, said: "The business was a Freedom Travel Group member that sold package holidays and also from time to time repackaged holidays under our ATOL bond.

"Under our managed agent agreement with ABTA we will take on all forward bookings, ensuring that customers travel as planned and that trade suppliers are paid.

"We are very disappointed and saddened that Monster Travel is no longer in a position to trade.""

Yet more signs of the times from what many within the travel industry percieved to be a confident and forward planing company, and continues to show the ongoing effects of both the global ressesion as well as the British Governments push for the family "Staycation" that, although of great benefit to the local British towns and seaside resorts, is having a detrimental effect on other British businesses..

For more of this story, and a good chance to express an opinion, please go to


Barticus.