Business travel to remain outside Flight Plus

Friday, 01 Nov, 2011 0

Business travel is to be excluded from Flight Plus, the Government confirmed today.

ABTA welcomed the decision by the Department for Transport to incorporate new wording into its draft regulations for ATOL reform to make it clear agents will not be required to provide financial protection for business travel arrangements.

The move follows the Government's announcement last week that the timeline for implementation of the reforms would be pushed back to April 2012, following concerns raised by ABTA and other industry bodies about the workability of implementing changes in such a short timescale.

ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer said: "We are delighted that the Government has taken these steps to ensure that business travel is exempt from ATOL.

"ATOL is about protecting travel arrangements for consumers, business travel arrangements do not need this protection.

In coming weeks we are meeting with the Department for Transport and CAA and looking for them to provide further clarity on other key practical elements of the reforms including the "standard terms" and the remit of the Air Travel Trust Fund Trustees.

"We are also repeating our call to them to provide a clear commitment to bringing airlines within the scope of reform. Only with the inclusion of airlines will the system be truly comprehensive, transparent and fair for both consumers and the industry."

By Linsey McNeill

Linsey McNeill

Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk

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