Greater Protection For Holidaymakers Welcomed By Huppert

Government reforms, providing greater protection for Cambridge holidaymakers booking overseas holidays, have been welcomed by city MP, Julian Huppert.

The changes to the Air Travel Organisers Licensing (ATOL) scheme, which at present covers only package holidays, will extend it to cover ‘flight plus’ holidays sold by a tour operator or travel agent.

This means that when holidaymakers book a flight and other key elements such as hotel accommodation or car hire within two consecutive days of each other, they will be offered the same ATOL protection.

Further reforms to the ATOL scheme, to possibly include holidays sold by airlines, are contained in the Civil Aviation Bill currently making its way through Parliament.

Julian, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Transport Committee welcomed the move to make air travel more passenger focused and offer holidaymakers more protection.

He said: “Until now, we have had an absurd situation where travellers have been left unsure as to whether their holidays are covered. This gives them little peace of mind should their tour operator become insolvent before they travel or while they are on holiday.

“And the rise in internet shopping for holidays means that more and more people are choosing to book trips on line rather than take package holidays. We need a system which recognises this trend and responds to this new found freedom and flexibility. The latest reforms go some way to addressing this and I hope the government will go further.”