CAA actions over illegal travel sales welcomed

TUI Travel is welcoming actions to recover monies from agents who sold travel packages without ATOL protection.

Travel Insurance News - 15/12/2008

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In a statement it released on Monday, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed that it will take action against those travel agents who unlawfully sold accommodation or other travel services and packaged them with flights on failed XL carriers Freedom Flights and Pure Flights.

TUI Travel’s managing director for the UK and Ireland, Dermont Blastland, said: "We desperately need an environment for customers so that when they book holidays they can be 100% certain whether they are protected or not.

He went on to say: "We continue to urge the Government to undertake a fundamental review and overhaul of this area of regulation for the benefit of the British public and the industry as a whole."

The Travel Association – the ABTA - also welcomed the action by the CAA: "We wholeheartedly support the CAA in their action against companies illegally organising package holidays as we agree that any agent who sells a package should have in place proper financial protection."

Mark Tanzer, the chief executive of the ABTA, said: “We do however, remain concerned that the lack of transparency makes it difficult for the travel industry and its customers to understand and we urge the government again to review this complex issue.”

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