EU Parliament passes Package Travel Directive
The UK will have until October 2017 to implement the new Package Travel Directive after it was passed by the European Parliament yesterday.
ABTA’s head of public affairs Stephen D’Alfonso said the vote marked a milestone in the PTD revision process, which began as long ago as 2009.
"ABTA has long argued for a more level playing field for travel companies, and enhanced consumer protections," he said.
"The revised Directive goes some way to achieving this aim, and we look forward to continuing to work with the EU institutions to monitor whether further changes for greater consistency will be required in the coming years.
"The UK Government will now have two years to implement the Directive, with a further six months allowed for compliance."
D’Alfonso said ABTA would continue to work with the Government to represent the views of its members as the reforms are implemented, and support members as changes begin to impact their businesses.
Earlier this year, the Air Travel Insolvency Protection Advisory Committee warned the Government that the new Directive threatened to water down protection for British holidaymakers.
Its main concern was that consumers would be protected by the country where their holiday firm was based, not by the country where they bought their holiday.
Online Travel Agents also warned that the new Directive will encourage travel businesses to relocate overseas, where they would avoid the new legislation.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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