“Overwhelming” public backing for airline protection scheme

More than three quarters of people would back paying extra for their holiday to ensure protection against airline failure.

A MORI poll for the Federation of Tour Operators and ABTA found that 81% of consumers agreed it would be a good idea to add between 50p and £2 to the cost of a ticket to protect themselves against an airline collapsing. Only six per cent disagreed.

The findings, released prior to the start of the ABTA Convention in Orlando on Friday, further add to the debate over creating a blanket passenger protection scheme for air travellers.

Currently scheduled airlines – including the no-frills carriers – are not obliged to offer any form of cover against financial failure, while tour operators offering air-based holidays are required to lodge bonds with the Civil Aviation Authority to provide ATOL cover which pays out when firms fold.

FTO chairman Ian Ailles warned: “Spiralling oil prices and the well publicised difficult global climate for international tourism and the airline sector all point to the risk of even more financial failures over the coming months.”

His comments come just days after it emerged at the Association of Independent Tour Operators conference in Croatia that any government legislation was unlikely to be in place until the end of next year, as reported by TravelMole on Monday.

Mr Ailles (Thomas Cook) called for “meaningful” voluntary protection measures to be put in place in the interim.

The FTO supports and extension of the ATOL regime to cover all air travellers and claims the consumer research amongst 724 people conducted by MORI last month should reassure the government that there is “overwhelming” public support for action.

A statement from the group, whose members are companies which provide 70% of overseas package holidays, said: “Indeed the FTO believes it suggests there could also be widespread anger in the event of large numbers of British citizens being needlessly stranded abroad or losing money.”

Mr Ailles added: “ We are working with the Department for Transport as it reviews financial protection for air travellers, but continue to support the CAA’s call in July to extend cover to scheduled air travel, and for the introduction of meaningful and effective interim voluntary measures until legislative time can be found to enact the changes.

“Action to protect customers of all UK originating flights is long overdue.”

Report by Phil Davies