Protect airline customers, Bruce tells Mandelson (BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats)

BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats <info@banffandbuchanlibdems.org.uk>

Protect airline customers, Bruce tells Mandelson

December 17, 2009 12:00 AM
Originally published by The Rt Hon Malcolm Bruce MP

Protect airline customers, Bruce tells Mandelson

Lib Dem MP Malcolm Bruce today renewed his call for the Government to protect consumers who have brought flights by debit cards or cash.

The Gordon MP was speaking after the collapse of Scotland's biggest airline, Flyglobespan, left thousands of holidaymakers stranded and many customers substantially out of pocket.

In the wake of the collapse of XL Airways and Zoom last year, Mr Bruce had called for ATOL protection to be extended to customers who buy flights directly from an airline.

Commenting, Malcolm Bruce said:

"Just over a year after the collapse of XL Airways and Zoom, thousands of passengers have again been left stranded, and in some cases, severely out of pocket.

"I doubt Flyglobespan will be the last operator to fall victim to the current economic climate. The Government should take heed of this, and take steps to guarantee that no passenger is left stranded when airlines or tour operators collapse.

"A perfectly good insurance scheme exists in ATOL. Several operators have already signed up. However, many have not. The Government should be taking all the steps they can to eliminate this two-tier scheme, where some passengers are protected, whereas others are not.

"I will be challenging Peter Mandelson once again on why there is no legal requirement to protect flights bought direct from an airline or for accommodation-only sales."

ENDS

Notes to editors

Mr Bruce has consistently called for holidaymakers who book directly with airlines to have the same protection as those who book from a tour operator. For his previous exchange (12th July 2009) with the Department for Transport on this matter please refer to Hansard on www.parliament.uk or www.theyworkforyou.com