The president of the SPAA has branded the reform of the consumer financial protection system “comical” and called for it to be “thrown in the bin”.
Speaking at the association’s annual dinner in Glasgow, Kevin Thom said: “We are not alone in thinking, as a number of MPs agree, that we should throw it in the bin.
“Let’s stop this bureaucratic pantomime now. Start with a clean canvas and create a simple, modern, transparent and fair system.”
The SPAA has called for the government to adopt a system similar to that used in the Netherlands, where each customer pays £1 towards a financial protection fund.
He added: “As for those airlines who campaign against being brought into Atol, I say ‘get real’.”
The association also expressed concern about the potential takeover of BMI by British Airways. Thom said there was “fear and concern” about how it would impact connections from Edinburgh and Aberdeen to Heathrow.
The SPAA met Scottish transport minister Keith Brown this week to talk about the possibility of Air Passenger Duty becoming a devolved issue.
Thom said: “This could be positive but we will reserve judgement for now.”
Some 230 people attended the dinner at Glasgow’s Crowne Plaza.