Air passenger protection ‘a patched up mess’
Sunday, 21 Dec, 2009
0
An all-encompassing protection scheme for all airline passengers has been demanded following the failure of the Globespan group.
The plea came from Scottish Passenger Agents Association president Brian Potter in a renewed call for a “speedy and thorough review” of the current, “increasingly ineffectual” consumer financial protection system in the UK.
“We will continue to lobby assertively, the current government, and incoming government of any persuasion, to conduct a speedy, thorough and productive review of the patched-up mess which is our current system of financial protection for consumers,” he said.
The Edinburgh-based travel group’s collapse has seen only a minor percentage of its total passenger commitment covered by the Civil Aviation Authority’s ATOL protection scheme, with the vast majority of customers either having to seek credit card company refunds, or facing the prospect of no refund at all.
In detailed submissions in response to consultations undertaken by the Government, CAA and ABTA, the SPAA has consistently suggested practical alternatives, which would see all air passengers fully protected, regardless of their chosen booking method, or which, if any, additional services (such as accommodation) they choose to purchase.
Potter said: “Flyglobespan was awarded holiday airline of the year by our members for good reasons.
“It offered good quality, regional services to Europe and beyond on a low-cost business model, but regrettably, it has been defeated by prevailing economic conditions, and the imposition by government on leisure and business travellers of increasingly onerous taxes and charges – another issue on which the SPAA has, and will continue to voice our concerns.
“We need to have new, coherent and all-encompassing protection for all air passengers, and we need to have it now, before another airline failure lets down and disappoints thousands more leisure and business travellers.”
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026