CEOs and senior management of more than 20 leading leisure airlines met at the IACA Annual General Meeting in Brussels…
CEOs and senior management of more than 20 leading leisure airlines met at the IACA Annual General Meeting in Brussels and confirmed that Package Travel is here to stay!
In a panel discussion, IACA airlines and guest speakers from across the leisure industry unanimously agreed on the need to adapt to changes in consumer demands, holiday patterns and distribution techniques in order to secure long-term growth.
The concept of “dynamic package” enabling consumers to select components and design a tailor-made holiday will be instrumental in this process of adaptation.
The added-value of package travel – convenience, quality assurance and legal protection – attracted more than 90 million Europeans to package holidays in 2003.
Whilst the tour operator is and will continue to be an important client for IACA airlines, the importance of seat-only is on the rise. IACA members are Europe’s original low-cost carriers and can easily compete on the seat-only market.
The AGM elected Claus-Dieter Wehr, Managing Director of Thomas Cook – Condor as President of IACA. On the leisure business model, Mr. Wehr commented that “IACA members are adjusting rapidly to the changing environment and are already successfully combing seat-only and package travel products.”
Roman Pane CEO of Futura Airlines was elected as IACA Vice-President.
The AGM also ratified the membership of 4 new member airlines: Condor Berlin, Corsair, Eurocypria and Sky Airlines.
The IACA Annual General Meeting took place in Brussels on 21-22 April. “Is Package Travel Dead?” was the theme of discussion led by a panel of leading leisure experts:
- Charles Gurassa, former Director TUI
- Joachim Hunold, Managing Partner Air Berlin
- Ralf Corsten, former Director TUI
- Geoffrey Lipman, Special Advisor to the World Tourism Organisation
- Tommaso Zanzotto, Chairman Online Travel Corporation
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