FTO calls for urgent inquiry into airport security chaos
The Federation of Tour Operators has called for an inquiry into the chaos caused due to heightened security at airports.
Chairman Ian Ailles said although no holiday charter flights were cancelled as a result of the disruption, lack of consistency and contingency planning made the situation worse for customers.
“We feel let down by inconsistent airport policies, clearly inadequate staffing arrangements and lack of rehearsed contingency planning which have made this serious situation far worse for customers than it needed to be,” he said.
“ It is not clear to us how airport security arrangements at times of heightened tension have improved in the five years since the September 11 tragedy.
“We call a for an independent inquiry, in the weeks to come, of the handling of this crisis by all the parties involved – especially the airports and the government’s own planning for passenger security in the light of this long-recognised potential threat.”
Ailles said charter airline delays, except for flights to the US, were limited to an average of two to three hours.
“This performance contrasts sharply with the widespread and continuing cancellations and customer disruption reported from the no-frillls and scheduled airlines.
“As shown during previous operational crises – the South East Asian tsunami, last year’s hurricanes etc – tour operators, their staff and airlines have an outstanding record in terms of customer care and minimising disruption.”
Airports operator BAA has also come under fire from airlines, including British Airways, First Choice and Ryanair.
It has now issued a statement in response to these criticisms. See separate story.
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.
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