FROM THE PRESIDENT ...
THERE'S A LONG WAY TO GO YET WITH THE ATOL STORY!
In the Government's upcoming Aviation Bill - to be laid before Parliament during the next few days - there will be a clause bringing 'package holidays sold by airlines' under the obligations of the new ATOL regulations, as SPAA members attending the ABTA Scotland Meeting in Glasgow, 19 January learned. Head of Public Affairs, Luke Pollard, kicked off the evening session with the news of the Government's plans, which are due to be fully explained in a detailed announcement during the coming week, and colleague John de Vial delivered a comprehensive update on progress to the assembled company.
In general, much detail remains to be settled, prior to the proposed introduction of the new regulations in early April 2012, and ABTA has confirmed it is still arguing strongly for a 'grace period', if not a delay, in the introduction. Undoubtedly, the SPAA supports the call for more time, and ABTA has done a great job in bringing this comprehensive update to Scotland, but although somewhat clearer on the implications, we are more than ever extremely concerned that, far from bringing clarity and transparency to the broken ATOL system, these reforms will simply confuse the public further, and impose additional bureaucratic burdens on already challenged travel retailers. The system remains far from being fit for purpose, and we will use the upcoming further Consultation to hammer home this fact, and to call for the introduction of our long-recommended universal customer levy, as an eminently sensible replacement.
Meanwhile, with just on a month to go before we sit down in Glasgow’s Crowne Plaza for the 82nd Annual SPAA Dinner, we’re disclosing a few more details of the evening’s programme – have a look at SPAA News adjacent. It promises to be a fantastic evening, and I look forward to seeing you there!
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Kevin Thom
SPAA President
20 January 2011
THERE'S A LONG WAY TO GO YET WITH THE ATOL STORY!
In the Government's upcoming Aviation Bill - to be laid before Parliament during the next few days - there will be a clause bringing 'package holidays sold by airlines' under the obligations of the new ATOL regulations, as SPAA members attending the ABTA Scotland Meeting in Glasgow, 19 January learned. Head of Public Affairs, Luke Pollard, kicked off the evening session with the news of the Government's plans, which are due to be fully explained in a detailed announcement during the coming week, and colleague John de Vial delivered a comprehensive update on progress to the assembled company.
In general, much detail remains to be settled, prior to the proposed introduction of the new regulations in early April 2012, and ABTA has confirmed it is still arguing strongly for a 'grace period', if not a delay, in the introduction. Undoubtedly, the SPAA supports the call for more time, and ABTA has done a great job in bringing this comprehensive update to Scotland, but although somewhat clearer on the implications, we are more than ever extremely concerned that, far from bringing clarity and transparency to the broken ATOL system, these reforms will simply confuse the public further, and impose additional bureaucratic burdens on already challenged travel retailers. The system remains far from being fit for purpose, and we will use the upcoming further Consultation to hammer home this fact, and to call for the introduction of our long-recommended universal customer levy, as an eminently sensible replacement.
Meanwhile, with just on a month to go before we sit down in Glasgow’s Crowne Plaza for the 82nd Annual SPAA Dinner, we’re disclosing a few more details of the evening’s programme – have a look at SPAA News adjacent. It promises to be a fantastic evening, and I look forward to seeing you there!
Kevin Thom
SPAA President
20 January 2011
Scottish Passenger Agents' Association
