Alex Cuenca

📌 In a recent interview with Preferente, Carlos Garrido, President of CEAV, highlighted the growth in travel agency sector with a 27% increase in 2023 and employment surpassing 70,000 workers. The sector is seeing a shift from last-minute bookings to more advanced reservations, offering benefits to both customers and agencies. Concerns were raised about the Real Decreto 933/2021, set to launch on October 1, 2024, potentially impacting agencies. CEAV seeks to exclude travel agencies from this decree and is in talks with various entities to address challenges. They also reached an agreement with IATA to be effective from January 1, 2025, though it still requires PAConf approval. CEAV remains committed to unifying the sector and foresees a positive summer season for 2024 due to strong early sales.

🛫 Ryanair won a legal battle in Berlin courts against the Spanish online agency Edreams for applying excessive prices to its ticket resales and misleading customers with claims of charge-free date changes, which only apply to Edreams' fees, not Ryanair's. Ryanair, referring to Edreams as a "pirate agency," demands Edreams align with agreements set with other online travel agencies and stop overcharging customers. The court deemed a commission of less than four euros excessive, as reported by Ryanair.

🛫 Emirates' A380 collided with a boarding bridge at Charles de Gaulle Airport in France last Monday, causing damage to the engine cover. Consequently, the aircraft was temporarily withdrawn for inspection, and the Dubai-bound flight was cancelled. Possible reasons for the incident include incorrect bridge positioning or signals during parking, unsuitable parking assignment, or pilot error. The event was reported on July 22, 2024, by @aviacionbrk and commented by aviation expert @GaboAir.

💸 The Spanish National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) is set to finalize a €486 million fine against Booking for "restrictive competition practices." The announcement is expected this week after a period of analysis, confirming the OTA's abuse of dominant position impacting hotels and competing online agencies. The decision stands despite a hearing in May. Booking plans to appeal, calling the sanction "completely disproportionate." CNMC initiated the proceedings in October 2022 for potential violations of Law 15/2007 and Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.