Abta has urged MPs investigating the August bank holiday air traffic control meltdown to consider the knock-on impact to operators and agents.
The travel association made its plea as the Parliamentary transport committee took oral evidence from airlines, National Air Traffic Control Services (Nats) and the Civil Aviation Authority today (Wednesday),
Abta wrote to the committee ahead of the hearing emphasising the importance of considering the impact of the disruptions on the wider travel and tourism sector.
The point was also raised directly with transport secretary Mark Harper at the time of the incident.
Abta called for any review into the causes of the failure to extend beyond the impact on airlines and airports and include an “active consideration” of the knock-on effects on businesses further down the supply chain.
Pubic affairs director Luke Petherbridge said: “The disruption caused by the Nats system failure resulted in significant lost revenues for Abta members and across the wider travel ecosystem.
“We know members’ staff worked extremely long hours over the bank holiday and the following days to ensure customers affected at overseas airports, or who had to endure delays or cancellations to their planned holidays, could find alternative travel arrangements.
“While high levels of customer service are an integral part of the offering of intermediaries, such as travel agents and tour operators, it is important that the impact on these businesses of incidents like this, which are completely outside of their control, are considered fully in the review to be conducted by the CAA.”