Government urged to set £1 consumer levy on all flights

Consumers could be paying an extra £1 on every flight they book by this time next year to protect themselves against scheduled airline failure.

The Civil Aviation Authority is delivering its research on financial protection for air travellers to the Government next week.

ABTA, the Federation of Tour Operators and the Association of Independent Tour Operators have written to every House of Commons MP in a last push to urge decision makers to close the loophole that means scheduled air travel sales are unprotected.

A consumer levy is believed to be the best way of tackling the issue. No amount has been confirmed as yet, but the FTO said £1 would be appropriate.

FTO director-general Andy Cooper said: “We are working hard to make sure the Government accepts the fundamental need for this to happen.”

The letter asks MPs to support an early-day motion put forward by Louise Ellman MP last week on the issue of financial protection. Transport committee vice-chair Brian Donohue has also tabled a series of parliamentary questions on the issue.

In the meantime, ABTA, the FTO and AITO plan to launch a “short, sharp, shock” advertising campaign next week to urge the Government to act now.

The CAA has completed its research for the Department for Transport. The next stage will be a public consultation before it could be potentially added to the civil aviation bill, announced last week. The whole process could take 12-18 months.

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