p5 sep19 17/9/08 22:06 Page 5
ttglive.com
xl collapse news
Refund claims
Agents’ non-Atol claims
face rejection, says CAA
Licensed retailers facing huge XL losses demand Atol rules
are enforced to create level playing field. By Lee Hayhurst
AGENTS who extended their Atol this year or we have referred back to a third party because
applied for a licence at the behest of the CAA are in our view they were not protected under Atol.”
furious the XL collapse will cost them while Non-Atol retailers, including Travel Republic
others continue to get around the rules. and On The Beach Holidays, insist their websites
The collapse has cost The Co-operative Travel comply with the law. They are referring all XL
£1.5 million and managing director Mike customers to the CAA for refunds.
Greenacre is demanding the CAA finally acts to Jason Dwyer, managing director of new Atol
ensure all retailers operate on a level playing holder Bookable Holidays, said the collapse will
field regarding consumer protection. cost him hundreds of thousands of pounds.
However, the CAA warned it will reject claims “Perhaps we should take our hats off to Travel
for refunds from XL customers that the authority Republic and others for having the business
considers do not fall under the failed firm’s Atol. acumen to realise the CAA and government are
This raises the prospect that claims for flights lions without teeth,” he said.
P
A Photos
sold by agents who dynamically package without Travel Republic was the largest agent for
X HELL: An XL employee sits forlornly at a an Atol could well be referred back to that agent. XL’s seat-only arm, Freedom Flights and had
check-in desk at Gatwick last Friday after David Moesli, CAA deputy director of 20,000 forward bookings. Managing director
the UK’s third-largest operator collapsed. consumer protection, said: “The question will be Kane Pirie said: “We go to extreme lengths to
The firm has laid off all 1,700 of its airline, whether the customers were contracted with XL. make sure customers know it’s not a package
call centre and head office employees “In previous failures there have been claims holiday they are buying from us.”
Trade angered by Retailers urged to take supplier cover
possible APC rise
ROCK Insurance has seen the uptake of its new Rock managing director Antony Martin said
Supplier Failure Cover soar since the collapse the collapse had made retailers realise the
THE POSSIBILITY the £1 per person Atol Protec- of XL. importance of having cover.
tion Contribution could increase following the XL The insurer signed deals with Travel Republic, He said On Holiday Group, as a wholesaler, was
collapse has met with an angry response. On the Beach and Freedom Direct this week. to offer the cover for free to all new customers,
XL had a £42 million bond but the failure will Rock’s new product, which was launched and at least six more agents were “signing up”.
cost much more and the Air Travel Trust Fund’s earlier this month, offers cover for customers Rock was also the insurance provider for
£21 million deficit could as much as double. and ensures agents who dynamically package
XL.com and Martin said all direct customers who
The failure is a huge setback to attempts to will not have to pay out. opted to take the cover were insured.
replenish the fund and the CAA said it could not
rule out increasing the levy.
Tim Williamson, Tui Travel customer director,
How TTG’s last Just a Quid campaign came close to success in 2005
said: “There’s absolutely no way the industry
should have to increase its contribution.” June 2005: Campaign launches, calling on September/October 2005: After a summer of
Richard Jackson, CAA consumer protection government to introduce a £1 levy on all flights. lobbying, Just a Quid falls at the final hurdle as
group director, said: “You cannot be proofed Supported by Abta, the FTO and the CAA. the government throws out the proposals just
against exceptional events. We have always said July 2005: Levy left out of the Civil Aviation Bill. hours before a Parliamentary
the £1 could go up or it could go down.” Opposition from scheduled airlines is debate is due to take place.
The CAA will call on loans agreed with Barclays blamed, but campaign Today: TTG is resurrecting the
up to a value of £60 million to meet the full cost is handed a lifeline by Just a Quid campaign to force
of the failure. It will not be making a claim with secretary of state for
just a uid
the government to act. Find how
its insurer AIG, which itself was saved from transport Alistair Darling. you can help at
ttglive.com/justaquid
collapse this week by the US government.
19.09.2008 05
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104