{"id":7903,"date":"2023-08-21T11:25:07","date_gmt":"2023-08-21T11:25:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviation-news.info\/?p=7903"},"modified":"2023-08-21T11:27:13","modified_gmt":"2023-08-21T11:27:13","slug":"holiday-firms-urge-pm-to-allow-watchdog-to-fine-airlines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviation-news.info\/?p=7903","title":{"rendered":"Holiday firms urge PM to allow watchdog to fine airlines"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Aviation news international – Holiday companies have urged the prime minister to give the aviation watchdog extra powers to directly fine airlines for service failures.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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In a joint letter along with consumer organisation Which?, they called for stronger enforcement action if airlines fail to uphold consumer rights around refunds and cancellations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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They claim thousands of passengers have been subjected to “unfair treatment”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The industry body for airlines said aviation was already highly regulated.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Many holiday providers cancelled flights and package deals<\/a>\u00a0this summer due to issues such as air traffic control restrictions and wildfires on Rhodes and other Greek islands, leaving British tourists in limbo.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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If a service is disrupted, airlines are supposed to re-route passengers, even on a rival airline or offer food, accommodation and in some cases refunds if a flight is cancelled.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The Department for Transport recently recommended<\/a>\u00a0that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) be given stronger enforcement powers, including the power to fine airlines that fail in their duties.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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But the letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak claims that too many people are being let down and urges him to lay out a clear timetable for when that might happen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The CAA regulates airlines in the UK, but it currently has no power to directly fine them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Instead, it can to apply to the courts for an enforcement order to force the airline to comply with laws around delays and redress. If an airline refuses, the court process can potentially end in an airline paying a fine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Companies including loveholidays, On the Beach, Riviera Travel and Thomas Cook called on Mr Sunak to use the King’s Speech in November to introduce a Bill which would boost the CAA’s powers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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‘Ruined plans’<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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“As a coalition of consumer advocates and travel companies, we urge you to show your support for British holidaymakers affected by this summer’s air travel disruption by agreeing to strengthen the CAA’s enforcement powers”, the letter said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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“This summer has seen the all too familiar sight of holidaymakers’ plans ruined by air travel disruption; this time through UK and European strike action, thousands of summer flight cancellations, and the terrible environmental impact of wildfires.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Presentational<\/picture><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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What are my rights if my flight is cancelled?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Passengers\u00a0have a number of rights under UK law<\/a>\u00a0if they are:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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