ABTA’s Director of Financial Protection and Financial Services John de Vial said has said that the government has “no choice” but to allow travel companies to offer credit notes. He also stressed that “most travel organisers cannot refund customers on time.
Speaking at TTG’s Business Support Live, John de Vial said that despite multiple meetings between ABTA, the Department for Transport (DfT), the CAA and Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy “the battle was not yet won” to secure the vital changes needed to the Package Travel Regulations.
He said: “I think government has taken onboard this is a real crisis but we all have to be realistic as this is a big ask.”
De Vial said a recent clarification from the European Commission around the acceptability of such a credit note scheme – given it is financially protected by the state – tallied with ABTA’s proposals and could increase the UK government’s likelihood to allow the change.
He added that travel firms were working for “consumer interest” in the long run, even if they could not currently meet “consumer rights” by way of an instant cash refund.
