World Cup worries and tax attacks . . . BEWARE, be forearmed . . . PLANNING AHEAD . . . SINGAPORE F1 Grand Prix
Dear Members and associates,
I trust this alert finds you fighting fit and not suffering too seriously from football fever?
Travel industry leaders gathered last week in London to compare notes as the World Cup kicked off and ahead of the new UK coalition government's first budget. It is widely expected that Chancellor Osbourne's budget will radically increase (40%) taxes on all airlines serving the UK market. UK tabloids have already pointed out in front page headlines, "300 pound tax on long-haul holidays".
Below are commentaries by ABTN on speeches at the conference by Willie Walsh, who assures me he will speak to AFA in Hong Kong "as soon as circumstances allow" and a particularly relevant-to-AFA speech by the CEO of London City airport, Richard Gooding.
They both commented in their speeches and in Q&A on the heavy anti-aviation atmosphere in the UK and its pervasive effect on our industry worldwide. If more European governments are attracted to what is increasingly seen as a "no downside" tax grab then the impact on outbound air travel/tourism to Asia will surely be significant.
In line with these speeches and my commentary on the recent IATA AGM the need for more effective industry advocacy (with joined-up thinking and messaging) has never been clearer. Thank you for the positive feedback so far received. Your inputs will be fed into the agenda planning for IATA's "Vision 2050" conference in Singapore in Q4.
Please do use this Sign of the Times section as an advocacy resource, pass relevant stories/speeches on to industry colleagues and most importantly political decision makers and opinion formers.
It's your business's future and sad to say anti-aviation activists are shaping it, from often ill-informed ideological vantage points. Effect change or be afflicted by it. It's in your hands.
On a more positive note, industry colleagues will gather in Singapore on Tuesday for the always popular SCRAPS drinks party. An upbeat location and atmosphere for discussing the growth, not the restraint, of the airline business!?
Also please note we are supporting a SCRAPS initiative . . . the establishment of a one-for-all, all-for-one, Aviation Suite at the Singapore Formula One, Grand Prix in September. Go to Upcoming events on this website for details. Basically a DIY corporate initiative.
On reflection, perhaps it's a little unfair to be Euro bashing at this stage of the World Cup . . . Spain and Germany, both highly fancied, lost to "minnows". Italy in a draw with the ALL WHITES New Zealand and England only managing a draw with USA* and Algeria!!
France, however takes the crash-and-burn award with a player sent home and a squad on strike, maybe there is one job with more potential for pressure and abuse than managing a national airline . . . must remember to ask Willie Walsh to kick that one around.
Your news and views as ever welcome.
P.S Reminds me to share my favourite headline of last week from a UK tabloid . . . after the England goal keeper's goal conceding his error in the World Cup match against USA . . . "ONE SPILL THE YANKS WON'T BITCH ABOUT"
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