Industry debates levy study
The Civil Aviation Authority is holding a seminar on Thursday where it will release details of its exhaustive study into the future of consumer protection.
Airlines, operators, trade and consumer bodies will all attend the event.
The seminar follows permission from government to publish the study – called a Regulatory Impact Assessment – as debate continues to rage over the introduction of £1 levy to protect consumers if a low cost or scheduled airline fails.
CAA officials said publication of the study, which was undertaken with the Department of Transport, will enable MPs, airlines, the travel industry and consumers to offer full and well-informed views on the issue.
Federation of Tour Operators director general Andy Cooper said the move could galvanise efforts to add the levy to the aviation bill.
“I think it will help,” he told TravelMole. “It coincides with the political party conferences so we hope MPs will sit up and take notice. The first thing MPs will do when they go back to Parliament is vote on the third and final reading of the aviation bill in the House of Commons.”
In a further move, First Choice head of industry affairs Simon Buck will attend the Labour Party Conference in Brighton, which starts on Sunday, and lobby MPs.
Cooper described the debate as “finely-balanced” despite the present failure to get the bill amended to include the levy.
Association of Independent Tour Operators director Noel Josephides, a firm proponent of the levy, added: “The publication of the study is a step forward.”
Report by Steve Jones
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