Comment on the CAA vs Travel Republic case verdict

Published:

10/11/2009

Topic:

Press Release,Travel

Bob Atkinson, travel expert at travelsupermarket.com, commenting on today's verdict around the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) versus online travel agent, Travel Republic:

"Today's ruling in favour of Travel Republic in the CAA's test case has made it clear that the online agency has not been selling package holidays outside of the rules set by the CAA's ATOL scheme.  However, the underlying issue for the industry as a whole remains  - consumers are still exposed to the risks of purchasing unprotected holidays and travel arrangements online and in high street agencies with no financial backing from the official scheme which was designed to protect the consumer.
 
"Beyond Travel Republic's customers, this ruling means that agents can continue to dynamically package holidays on behalf of the consumer and expose them to the financial risk of all or part of the trip going wrong due to company collapse.  In light of a number of high profile collapses such as XL, the industry needs to wake up and work harder to ensure innocent holidaymakers are protected.  Travel Republic do indeed have their own protection scheme in place, making a mockery of the point of the ATOL system and confusing the customer even further as to what cover they have.
 
"Consumers should remember that if they are booking a holiday or travel arrangements which are not ATOL protected, the prudent thing is to book using a credit card or visa debit card at all times.
 
"Given today's ruling, which may still be appealed, travelsupermarket.com is calling on the EU commission to review the outdated Directive on Package Holidays and for Government to reform the current ATOL scheme.  They should ensure that however consumers book and pay for their holidays, flights and accommodation, they are adequately protected."

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