ABTA: operators and agents should get ash cash too
Saturday, 14 Jun, 2010
0
ABTA has issued a statement calling on the Government to encompass all areas of the travel industry when it looks at ash cloud compensation packages.
Airlines have already met with senior government figures to demand compensation for the debacle, which they believe was not handled well by the CAA.
But tour operators and travel agents also worked hard to shoulder the responsibility of the natural disaster that grounded so many flights this spring.
The ABTA statement said: “In a House of Commons debate on the impact of the ash clouds on aviation, Minister of State at the Department of Transport Theresa Villiers, commented that ‘the Government have not ruled out providing support for airlines’”.
“During both ash cloud events package tour operators also provided accommodation and covered day to day expenses and ABTA believes they should be included in any possible compensation package.
“ABTA travel agents worked tirelessly to support and re-arrange travel arrangements for customers, often opening extended hours and all weekend during the crisis."
In the statement, head of public affairs Luke Pollard added: “The industry agrees with minister Villiers’ comments that the ash clouds were an unprecedented event and many Government agencies were involved in dealing with the effects both in the UK and Europe and it is clear the relevant regulations did not work well.
“We welcome the recognition she has given to the exceptional efforts made by the industry to look after and bring customers home as well as refunding and rebooking thousands.
“However we do not accept that the travel industry should have to bear the entire costs of unprecedented and ongoing natural events which are the responsibility of Governments and their consular services.
“Any future compensation package is not only the right and proper thing to do but must also reimburse all those companies who carried the financial burden of looking after affected customers.”
by Dinah Hatch
Dinah
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Clearing CSS/JS assets' cache... Please wait until this notice disappears...
Updating... Please wait...
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent