Travel association AITO has slammed the government for “playing the blame game” over recent travel delays at some UK airports and trying to “pass the buck” to the wider travel industry.
Last week, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps accused airlines and operators of “seriously overselling flights and holidays” when the industry was so short staffed following Covid redundancies.
In response, AITO Chairman Chris Rowles said the government was “playing the blame game” and trying to “pass the buck” to the wider travel industry” when “everyone in travel… has suffered hugely during the two long years of Covid.”
Rowles went on the state that the problems the travel industry are facing now “has been caused largely by three key linked factors”. He goes on to state that these are, in the main part “firstly due to the government’s stop/start policy in relation to overseas travel and, secondly, due to its total lack of sector-specific support for the travel industry over the past two years”. The third key factor he attributes to “the government’s total lack of understanding of the travel industry, despite our huge efforts to get these key messages through to the five government bodies to which the travel industry reports”.
AITO has urged the government to take responsibility for delays in the security check process for airport staff and for skilled overseas workers being denied relevant visas despite a shortage of supply of a range of travel-related occupations.
“Government, please hold up your hands and acknowledge your major part in the airport chaos that reigns at present,” Rowles said.
“Consumers are, quite rightly, protesting about changes and cancellations to their holiday flights, but the issues need to be clearly explained. Tour operators and travel agents have, unfortunately, no influence whatsoever over airlines and their schedules,” he added.
