ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer has called for action over the Cyprus Turkish Airlines failure which has left passengers with forward bookings in the lurch.
The national carrier suspended flights recently after which rival airline Atlasjet stepped in and took over with a 51% share in the airline.
Atlasjet said it would take over the 12,000 bookings on Cyprus Turkish Airlines’ books but ABTA is reporting agents saying that flights are being offered but not to the same airport.
“In some cases, the flights are to Ankara which is a nine-hour transfer to some of the resorts,” said an ABTA spokesman.
Tanzer said: “It is clear that customers are exposed and that we need a comprehensive system of financial protection that includes tour operators and airlines.”
by Dinah Hatch
