NEWS


Face masks could be obligatory for air passengers


Which? backs industry but calls RCNs ‘wrong’


Lee Hayhurst travel’s revival C River cruise line Uniworld is working with a virus


expert on measures that could include plastic shields and gloves for front-desk staff, mobile phone key cards, social distancing dining plans and a luggage changeover system. Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports are


to trial safety procedures including temperature scanners, face masks and gloves. Airlines Lufthansa, Wizz Air, United Airlines and Delta – as well as Eurostar – have also said face masks will be obligatory. But Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye


said social distancing “won’t work” in aviation, because kilometre-long queues would be required at airports. Andrew Charlton, of the Aviation Advocacy


consultancy, predicted four-hour waits at airports as compulsory pre-flight health checks become the norm, while lower load factors due to passengers sitting farther apart would mean “much higher ticket prices”. Transport secretary Grant Shapps told the BBC’s


Andrew Marr it could take “some time” for aviation to bounce back and that the industry must “be realistic”. On the same programme, travel broadcaster Michael Palin predicted people would be “travelling less and travelling better” and tipped a rise in domestic travel.


onsumer association Which? backed Abta’s demand for government to step in to support travel firms threatened by refund claims, but


reiterated its opposition to Refund Credit Notes. Which? Travel editor Rory Boland joined Abta


chairman Alistair Rowland in a Travel Weekly webcast to discuss the burning issue last week. Both agreed it was not in the interests of


consumers for viable travel firms to fail and leave clients having to claim refunds via the courts or the government Atol scheme. But Boland defended Which?’s stance of opposing


credit notes, saying thousands of customers had got in touch after feeling “bulldozed” into accepting them. “If we could get the government to come out


and say, 100%, these Refund Credit Notes are protected, you would get more holidaymakers willing to accept that,” he said. “But there will be people who continue to want


a cash refund, may very well require a cash refund, and that option has to be retained. “If we can get a portion of people to rebook


and a portion of people who are comfortable taking a government-backed credit note, that helps consumers and it helps the industry. “And hopefully that allows the industry the


headroom to issue those customers who want the cash with that refund.”


Rory Boland However, Boland described credit notes as


“wrong for consumers and the industry”, claiming many big operators are using Abta language to give incorrect legal advice to customers. Despite no official confirmation from regulator


the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Rowland said credit notes are legal under existing Atol terms and conditions. And he called on the CAA to enforce EU refund rules on airlines. “It does feel like a Mexican standoff between


airlines and government at the top of the food chain,” said Rowland. “If government could do anything to help, they would be ensuring airlines operate properly, because they’ve got the cash for


the flights that they’re not going to operate.” iWebcasts round-up, page 10


Alistair Rowland


Chief executive Shai Weiss said: “We


have weathered many storms since our first flight 36 years ago, but none has been as devastating as Covid-19 and the associated loss of life and livelihood for so many. “However, to safeguard our future and


emerge a sustainably profitable business, now is the time for further action to


reduce our costs, preserve cash and to protect as many jobs as possible. It is crucial we return to profitability in 2021.” Unite, which represents Virgin’s cabin


crew and check-in staff, called the news a “devastating blow” for the aviation sector while pilots union Balpa said the effects


would “reverberate through the UK”. i Airlines in turmoil: Business, back page


travelweekly.co.uk


7 MAY 2020


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