Passengers to advise aviation authority
A consumer panel to give the Civil Aviation Authority feedback from passengers is to be launched within the next few months.
The CAA said the panel would ‘act as a critical friend’ to the CAA, providing oversight and advice on its regulatory approach.
CAA chair Dame Deirdre Hutton said: "The panel will provide a consumer perspective on all aspects of the CAA’s work. But its main focus will be on how regulation affects the everyday passenger experience.
"We want the panel to shine a light on the passenger experience of air travel and suggest practical solutions to problems they identify."
The panel of up to seven consumer and aviation experts will be structured to be sufficiently independent to hold the CAA to account, she said, without incurring unnecessary administrative cost.
"We recognise that to be effective, it is important that it has sufficient independence to challenge the CAA when it needs to, with the freedom to stand up for consumers’ interests."
The CAA is advertising for applicants for the role of chair of the new panel in The Guardian and The Sunday Times. The successful applicant will be expected to play a significant part in shaping their role and that of the panel.
The CAA expects the Chair to be appointed this spring and the consumer panel to be up and running soon after. An application pack is available from the CAA.
By Linsey McNeill
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
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 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025