EXCLUSIVE
THE
Scottish Passenger Agents Association has called for trade bodies and consortia
to join forces to help influence the Civil Aviation Authority’s consultation on
overhauling the ATOL system.
The
body wants ABTA, the Guild of Business Travel Agents, Worldchoice, Global and
Advantage to come together to ensure agents’ views are heard.
SPAA
president Willie Stewart wants to avoid a repeat of the CAA’s consultation on
split-contracting where he felt agents’ suggestions were ignored.
He
said: “In that instance, we thought we wasted our breath. This time we want to
be shouting in the CAA’s face.”
Stewart
believes a combined force will have more power, as demonstrated when the SPAA
and ABTA formed a joint campaign to win agents exemption from travel insurance regulations
(Travel Weekly June 9).
His call comes as the trade overwhelmingly welcomed the
CAA’s consultation on the ATOL bonding system (Travel Weekly July 21). Agents
and operators agreed the current regulations are outdated, with most indicating
they want the rules extended to cover airlines offering accommodation.