BRITISH Airways has dropped plans to surcharge
operators using its flights in their packages because different brochure
printing times complicated the levy’s introduction.
The airline has abandoned surcharges for operators
until next November in a move BA billed as a ‘gesture of goodwill’ to relieve
travel companies of the burden of higher insurance and security costs following
September 11.
A BA spokeswoman said: “It used to be that all
brochures were printed and released around the same time but that’s not the
case anymore. Operators who had already printed their brochures talked to us
about how to include the surcharge, but in the end we decided it was easier to
apply it from next year.”
Although BA said security and insurance costs may come
down – cancelling or lowering the current £2.50 per sector surcharge –
operators preparing brochures for travel from November 1 2002 will have to cost
in the current charge for BA-inclusive packages.
Meanwhile, ABTA’s board is to
issue guidance to members over supplements for higher security and insurance
costs. It will advise tour operator members about ways to pass on those costs
to customers within the current law, and ask agents to be upfront with
consumers about extra charges.