ABTA attacks ‘missed opportunity’
ABTA has attacked the government’s decision not to extend the ATOL regulations to include scheduled and low cost airlines.
A new civil aviation bill will be placed before parliament but contains no reference to extending the financial protection scheme to all carriers.
The main thrust of the bill will be to replenish the Air Travel Trust which is currently almost £10 million in the red.
A department of transport spokesman said: “It is the intention to replenish the Air Travel Trust fund but not to extend the ATOL scheme. That is still in the process of discussion.”
An ABTA spokeswoman said: “This is a missed opportunity. It will mean millions of UK travellers will remain financially unprotected when they go on holiday and many of them just don’t realise it.”
The introduction of a levy on all package holidays, thought to be £1, is expected to provide additional cash for the trust fund.
Report by Steve Jones
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