Top operators call for action from new government

The UK’s leading package holiday operators have urged the new government to address four key issues including blanket financial protection for air passengers.

The Federation of Tour Operators issued a “holiday manifesto” today, demanding action from the next government on the vexed issue of ensuring all airlines and overseas travel organisers provide the same financial protection as that given to package holidaymakers under the ATOL bonding scheme.

The FTO, whose 12 members represent 70% of all package holiday sales in the UK, said: “With the rapid growth of ‘no frills’ airlines and of internet bookings, one in two overseas holidaymakers are now travelling unprotected – often without realising it. Given the severe difficulties still faced by the world’s airlines, travellers will not forgive or forget delay or inaction in the event of airline or travel organiser failure.

“Scheduled and ‘no frills’ airlines offering flights/holidays should not be allowed to remain outside the kind of financial protection package tour holidaymakers have enjoyed.”

The organisation is also seeking a “firm commitment” to ensure the projected growth in air travel will be met by improved airport capacity, especially in the South East of England where the FTO “strongly favours” extra runways at both Heathrow and Gatwick.

It added: “The Federation also strongly opposes the concept of BAA effectively ‘subsidising’ runway construction at Stansted through higher charges at its other airports in the south east.”

The FTO, whose members include the big four operators plus firms such as Kuoni, British Airways Holidays and Virgin Holidays, wants the incoming government to oppose any moves to raise the cost of flying through new taxes on aviation fuel or “so-called environmental taxes”.

“Air travel is already taxed through the Air Passenger Duty, raising some £1 billion a year – broadly the equivalent of aviation’s external environmental costs,” the FTO said. “Additional taxation would disproportionately hit millions of lower income families as well as retired citizens on fixed incomes, denying many their annual sunshine holiday and exacerbating the problems of social exclusion.”

Finally, the FTO renewed a call for government backing for an EU holiday accommodation safety directive to ensure minimum standards of hotel, fire, food handling and pool safety.

FTO chairman Ian Ailles said: “Overseas holidays have an essential place in the life of millions, across all ages and socio-economic groups. Speaking up for its customers the FTO calls on the next government to pledge support for a four point ‘holiday manifesto’ to help us ensure the continued availability of safe, affordable and financially protected overseas holidays.”

Report by Phil Davies