29 July 2010

Walsh to attend ABTA Convention

Agents will get their first opportunity to quiz British Airways' boss Willie Walsh about his handling of the cabin crew dispute at this year's ABTA Travel Convention.

The bullish chief executive has accepted an invitation to delivery the keynote address in Malta.

Afterwards he will answer questions from Convention moderator, TV newsreader Huw Edwards, who will also take questions from the floor.

ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer said ''I am delighted that Willie Walsh has agreed to speak at The Travel Convention.

"The Convention now reaches out to a broad travel audience, and the opportunity to engage with one of the aviation industry's highest profile business leaders will add a new dimension to the discussion and debate in Malta.

"There are many areas where British Airways shares challenges with the other parts of the travel industry, and I am sure that Mr Walsh will provide us with a very interesting perspective on common economic, regulatory and business issues''.

Walsh, who rarely talks at industry conventions, will also discuss BA's planned merger with Iberia and the tri-lateral agreement with American Airlines.

He will provide insight on how the new International Airlines Group will compete with the Star and SkyTeam alliances and he’ll explain what effect the Iberia merger could have in the light of the constraints on aviation growth in the UK.

By Linsey McNeill