Europe votes in favour of airline financial protection
The airline industry looks set to be forced to offer financial protection for its passengers after the European Parliament voted in favour of new regulations.
Like tour operators and agents, airlines will have to protect their customers in light of a company failure.
They will also be forced to provide fares inclusive of taxes, fees and charges and give equal access to fares across the whole of Europe.
Before being officially put into place, the regulations have to be ratified by the European Council, which is set to meet on October 1.
It it then likely to be another two to three months before the new regulations come into force.
A spokesman for ABTA said it was a major step in the right direction.
“We have been lobbying on these issues for a number of years but with lack of success with the UK Government. This cannot be anything other than a step in the right direction,” he said.
“The transparent pricing issue basically supports steps already taken by ourselves and the Office of Fair Trading, although there are certain amendments that were rejected and we need to sit and look at these in more detail.
“With regards to the opening up of access to fares, the fact that we have amongst the most competitive prices in Europe means agents will be presented with a great commercial opportunity.”
by Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Skyscanner reveals major travel trends 2026 at ITB Asia
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists