ABTA has welcomed the Government’s introduction of its Civil Aviation Bill which will mean holidays sold by airlines are now included in the ATOL financial protection scheme.

Mark Tanzer, CEO, ABTA commented: “This is a major step forward. Only with the inclusion of holidays sold by airlines will the ATOL system be truly comprehensive, transparent and fair. 

“We now look forward to the Government making an explicit commitment to this; the Department for Transport directly addressed the question of holidays sold by airlines during its summer consultation and the case for inclusion was emphatically made by ABTA and other respondents.

“A further consultation on this matter is unnecessary. With the Flight Plus legislation coming into effect in April we would urge the Government to act at the earliest opportunity to avoid further confusion for consumers and a lack of a level playing field within the industry.”