BA’s Walsh critical of airline funding accord
Europe is financing the expansion of Middle East airlines at the expense of its own carriers, according to Willie Walsh, British Airways’ chief executive, the Financial Times reported.
Walsh, speaking at an aviation conference in Brussels, was critical of an informal agreement that prohibits Europe and the UK from giving local airlines export credit guarantees for the purchase of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, the newspaper said.
That accord means carriers such as BA, Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Air France-KLM Group are denied access to financing available to Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways, which are “a very significant threat,†the FT quoted Walsh as saying.
Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific has firmed up a previously announced commitment for 30 all-new A350 XWB long-range aircraft.
Cathay CEO Tony Tyler said, “The A350 fits perfectly into our operation. Its passenger capacity, flight range and operating economics are just right to become the backbone of our mid-sized long haul wide-bodied fleet.”
Cathay will operate the A350 XWB across its route network, principally on non-stop services to Europe.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025
U.S.A. and Israel attacks on Iran impact air movements in the Gulf (Update 1.00pm CET)
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism