Mark Tanzer writes to PM and Chancellor to ask for financial aid

ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer is writing to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak calling again for specific financial support for the travel industry.

While he welcomed the government’s extension of the furlough scheme, he pointed out that companies will have to pay staff through the second lockdown to process refunds but they won’t have any money coming in.

Mark said the travel ban being introduced as part of the lockdown measures from Thursday will mean ‘an effective shut down for travel businesses which have already been severely damaged by the pandemic’.

"With the constant chopping and changing of FCDO travel advice and quarantine restrictions – and testing for travel still in the future – the travel industry has not had any opportunity to recover, and now we find ourselves locked down once again," he said.

"While public health must come first, the measures must also come with the right support to help businesses survive and to protect jobs."

In his letter to the PM and the Chancellor, he will call for the furlough scheme to be more flexible and that specific financial support is made available to the travel sector.

"I will also be emphasising to the Prime Minister, and to other Government departments, that it is essential they use this lockdown period to work tirelessly to make sure that travel is ready to restart as soon as lockdown ends," he said.

"That means lifting the global travel advisory against non-essential travel by moving back to country specific advice, introducing a regional rather than whole-country travel corridor policy, and having a testing regime in place and ready to go."

In a statement issued to the media on Monday evening, Mark also stated ABTA’s position on refunds. He made it clear that package holiday customers are entitled to a full refund if the FCDO advise against travel to their destination or if the travel services that make up the package are cancelled or significantly altered.

He said that where package services are still operating as booked, customers should speak to their travel company to discuss their options. "There are likely to be options to amend travel dates beyond the end of the lockdown period.

If no alternatives can be arranged customers might receive a part refund although the travel company would be entitled to retain any costs already incurred that could not be recovered from the travel service suppliers," he said.

"We are advising customers to speak to their travel companies to understand their options, encouraging them to, where possible, rebook for a later date."

By Linsey McNeill, Editor (UK)