Travel Agent - September 24, 2007 - (Page 15)

BA Departs Detroit British Airways (www.britishairways.com) says it will expand flight services between London’s Heathrow Airport and various U.S. cities next summer, but will suspend routes between Heathrow and Detroit. The move doesn’t seem to affect agents in the area, but nonetheless limits their options. The airline’s Detroit fleet will be used on more lucrative routes, a spokesperson for British Airways said. Maria Carriero, manager of Dante Travel Agency in Detroit, understands the move. “It’s probably because there’s not enough need. We use a lot of Lufthansa out of Detroit,” she said. And she’s exactly right. “The route wasn’t making any money and we tried a variety of sales and marketing techniques to postpone the inevitable,” said BA’s spokesperson. “It’s the changing market of Detroit. Traditionally, it was the big three auto manufacturers going to London, but now our market share from them has been reduced to almost nothing.” The spokesperson said the airline would retain the operating license there and that if demand rises, would reinstate the service. Though the choices might be depleting in Detroit, British Airways is beefing them up elsewhere. After the “Open Skies” British Airways is suspending Detroit-Heathrow flights but adding service to other U.S. cities agreement between the U.S. and the European Union goes into effect in March, lifting air travel restrictions between here and Europe, summer 2008 will see BA’s service increased between Heathrow and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport from 51 to 55 flights per week; Seattle, from 10 to 13 flights per week; and Washington, D.C., from 21 to 24 flights per week. In addition, service between Gatwick and Orlando, FL will increase from seven to 10 flights per week. At that time, British Airways’ daily flight from Dallas Fort Worth and double daily flights to Houston also will move from Gatwick to Heathrow. —Jennifer Merritt Interested? Request #006. September 24, 2007 TravelAgent 15 http://www.britishairways.com http://ski.com http://ski.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - September 24, 2007

Contents Editor's Letter News You Can Use Agenda: Fam Trips, Calendar of Events, Deal of the Week Cover Story - Down the Stretch: Ramping Up 2007 Sales Central & South America: Anthony’s Key Resort, Roatan, Honduras Florida: Hotel Packages for Cruise-Bound Travelers Cruises: A Tale of Two Lines Agent Exchange Classified Marketplace Luxury Travel Expo Update Advertisers’ Information People & Places

Travel Agent - September 24, 2007

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