In the final Public Consultation this season, The UK Department for Transport has requested that stakeholders offer their views on their proposals to update the regulatory environment for the aviation industry.  HolidayTravelWatch has responded to their detailed questionnaire, dealing with the effect of their proposals on the proposed ‘Consumer Objectives’ – Safety – Consumers – Environment.  Many of the complaints we receive centre around failures under EU Directive 261/2004 (Denied Boarding, Flight Delays and Flight Cancellations), EU Directive 1107/2006 (Rights to Persons of Reduced Mobility), EU Directive 211/2005 (Issues concerning aircraft safety – eg EU Blacklist of Airlines etc) and lost and/or damaged luggage disputes.  We have responded to this Consultation in a manner which is informative, constructive but nonetheless critical.  We have called upon  all stakeholders, to meet the challenges of dialogue and progress with Politicians and Consumers, to create a new deal and a truly sustainable future for the UK and EU airline industry! Read More

I was in London last week discussing amongst other things, the future Consumer Objective and Regulation of the Airline Industry in the UK.  During that meeting, I discussed with one member of the stakeholder group, the issue of safety and in particular, the growing awareness surrounding the Aerotoxic or Sick Aircraft Syndrome issue.  I expressed the view that whatever the current enquiry commissioned by Parliament, this issue is real and will not go away.  I predicted that whilst some ‘interested parties’ are engaged in ‘naysayer’ activities on this subject, the next 3 to 5 years will see the growth of groups of airline passengers taking action because of their exposure to toxic fumes!  As if to underline this point, today’s news surrounding the emergency landing of a British airline jet, is surely a timely warning to the industry and the authorities! Read More

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HolidayTravelWatch continues to receive many complaints from holidaymakers concerning their experiences.  Such complaints can range from holiday company collapses, airline flight delays or cancellations, bullying of holidaymakers who make complaints, serious gastric illness, confirmed illnesses such as Salmonella, Cryptosporidium or Shigella.  We also hear from holidaymakers who report poor standards in hotel accommodation, poor hygiene practices – such as birds eating food, flies on food or sewage smells.  Many complaints are simply met with indifference by hotel staff or tour company representatives, which causes further angst amongst holidaymakers, particularly when they have often paid many thousands of pounds for the privilege of suffering this abuse in their contract! Read More

The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), has called for evidence on the issue of Aerotoxic or Sick Aircraft Syndrome.  Their investigation remit has stated that: Read More

In October 2007, HolidayTravelWatch submitted its findings and recommendations to the EU Commission on the Package Travel Directive.  Following that report, the EU parliament adopted a resolution calling for a ‘renewed’ EU Tourism Policy.  This was followed by a report, commissioned by the EU Parliament, which recommended a strengthening of the Package Travel Directive. Read More

The threat to The Package Travel Regulations still remains.  The EU Commission have initially reported that they see a case for a renewal of the Directive, but because of forthcoming EU budgetary and parliamentary elections, such proposals have to remain on ‘ice’.  That means that the earliest we are likely to witness any draft documentation is likely to be from mid 2009 onwards.  In the meantime, as our lead article alludes, there appears to be a collapse in consumer confidence in travel companies.  This shortfall in confidence is not wrought from the current financial crisis, but from the complete failure to recognise and provide the consumer with access to the rights contained within the Package Travel Regulations.  Read More