p10-11 news Dec11 9/12/09 20:34 Page 11
ttglive.com
aviation analysis news
PROTECTION.
HEATHROW THIRD RUNWAY.
MPs back Atol cover for all flights
Tory policy ‘a disgrace’
BRITISH Airways boss Willie
THE CAMPAIGN to extend Atol protection to all passenger protection was inadequate and would Walsh lambasted Conservative
flights has been given backing by an influential get worse as tour operators unbundled packages opposition to a third runway at
group of MPs. and more customers booked online. Heathrow, warning it would be
The Commons Transport Committee formally The MPs said that since the collapse of XL in seen as a “disgrace”.
recommended that the government should 2008, the government had tried to improve in- Walsh (pictured) said the
extend Atol protection to every flight, after formation given to passengers about their rights Tories had presented no
concluding that passengers were not adequately and the need for insurance against airline failure. alternative to a third runway, and he claimed
protected from airline collapses. However, they remained concerned despite their position risked doing long-term economic
It made its recommendation in a report into those efforts and also urged the government damage to the UK.
the future of aviation released this week after a and insurance industry to make it clear to “I don’t see this as a coherent policy. It will be
year-long inquiry. passengers that general travel insurance policies the biggest mistake ever made if there is no
MPs on the Transport Committee said all the often did not cover airline collapses. runway three. We will look back on it in years to
witnesses seen during the come and say ‘what a disgrace’,” said Walsh.
inquiry said they believed ■ Letters, p34 He added: “Abu Dhabi and Dubai are building
hub airports because they want to take business
away from the UK. If the Conservatives don’t
The Commons Transport Committee’s aviation, the impact of the recession and
want to build a third runway at Heathrow, how
recommendations include: competition from other European airports.
are they going to position the UK to compete on
■ The debate over climate change should stop ■ Government support for a third runway at
a global scale in the future?”
“demonising aviation”. Heathrow should continue. A direct link to
His views were backed by Virgin Atlantic chief
■ A second runway at Gatwick in 2019 could be the national rail network is “essential”.
executive Steve Ridgway. He said traffic would
a better option than one at Stansted. ■ The Open Skies agreement between the EU
simply go elsewhere if the runway were not built,
■ Air Passenger Duty should be set at levels and US should be renegotiated because it is
losing Britain business but making no difference
that recognise the economic importance of harmful to the UK economy.
to global emissions.
&DSDELOLW\UHOLDELOLW\�H[LELOLW\
$1'DORYHO\ER[RIFKRFV
If you haven’t made the connection yet, it’s all about our service.
At Connections we don’t just put great holidays together, we’ve
C
A
£1
P
I
0
T
put a great team of expert consultants together to make booking FO
A
L BON
D
them easier, faster and more rewarding for travel agents than
PA
R
E
S
V
S
E
R
Y
ever. And that means for every passenger you book, a £10
BOOK
E
N
G
E
R
Capital Bond to spend at a choice of over 140 different high
(T
H
E
A
D
!
W
H
ET
T S
Y
H
street and online stores, from Selfridges to Thorntons.
O
O
UR
U
L
A
D
P
P
E
TITE
)
Call us today on 0800 988 5839 for details or visit our website.
Putting great holidays together www.connectionsworldwide.co.uk
CANADA USA AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND FAR EAST ITALY
11.12.2009 11
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72