CAA extends deadline for return of pipeline monies
Phil Davies and Ben Ireland
Travel agents who sold Tomas Cook holidays have been given an extended deadline to return pipeline monies to the Civil Aviation Authority. The CAA says the move will
“minimise disruption” to the travel industry following Cook’s collapse – but some agents are upset about having to return their commissions. Agents were advised at the time
of the September 23 failure to hold on to pipeline monies – funds paid by consumers but not yet passed on to Cook. The aviation regulator’s Atol
department last week advised agents to return all pipeline monies to the Air Travel Trust, which is used to refund customers covered by Atol. The process was extended to
January 31, 2020, and agents were told to invoice the CAA for £50 to “help cover the administrative costs”. A number of agents, all of whom
asked not to be named, said they were disappointed they would not receive commission as they had fulfilled their role by making the booking.
EasyJet and Jet2 snap up ex-Cook slots at airports
Airlines have begun to snap up former Thomas Cook take-off and landing slots.
Jet2.com bought slots at Birmingham, Stansted and
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THOMAS COOK
One homeworker said: “We’re
being penalised despite doing nothing wrong, while the CAA repatriated customers who bought seat-only non-Atol protected flights and flew home people who completed their holidays.” But Chris Bailey, of Bailey’s
Travel in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, said he understood the CAA’s request.
He added: “I sympathise with those who built their businesses on Thomas Cook sales, but as agents we shouldn’t expect to hold on to commission. The customer didn’t receive the product. Where else is the CAA going to get the money from? As agents we bear some responsibility.” CAA head of Atol licensing
Michael Budge said: “We are grateful for the co-operation from agents over the past weeks. The impact of Thomas Cook’s liquidation is far-reaching and we want to ensure that consumers’ refunds are processed efficiently.”
Agents were told to hold on to pipeline monies paid for Cook holidays
Airlines’ carbon offsetting schemes called into question
Airlines’ carbon offsetting came under fire this week in a BBC documentary that questioned whether the aviation industry is
doing enough to go green. Panorama interviewed Ryanair
chief executive Michael O’Leary, who claims the airline is the greenest in Europe. He defended its tree planting scheme in Ireland that covers seven hectares – roughly the size of 10 football pitches. O’Leary told the programme,
watched by millions of viewers, that 3% of Ryanair customers choose to offset carbon. “If the aviation industry had
any alternative to kerosene, we would use it in a flash,” he said, adding: “From little acorns grow mighty trees.” Academics and environment
campaigners were sceptical. Professor Simon Lewis, of
University College London, said Ryanair’s scheme was “tiny”, and would offset less than 0.01% of this year’s emissions. The carrier would need to plant trees on 12% of UK land to offset its carbon, he added. “They are woefully inadequate
compared to the scale of the emissions that are being generated,” he said. “It’s a green gimmick rather than a serious attempt to slow down climate change.”
Manchester airports for an undisclosed sum, while easyJet paid £36 million for ex-Cook slots at Gatwick and Bristol. Steve Heapy, chief executive
of
Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “The acquisition of these key slots will play an important role in supporting our continued growth at Birmingham, Stansted and Manchester. It is the latest demonstration of our commitment
to providing holidaymakers with more choice and flexibility when it comes to flying to sun, city and ski destinations.” EasyJet bought 12 summer slot
pairs and eight winter slot pairs at Gatwick and six summer slot pairs and one winter slot pair at Bristol. The cost was more than three
times the £11 million Chinese conglomerate Fosun paid for the Thomas Cook brand a week earlier.
Q Thomas Cook Germany is to shut down on December 1 after administrators failed to find a buyer. However, administrators are in advanced talks to sell two or more of its operator brands and hope to save about half the 2,100 jobs in Germany.
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THOMAS COOK
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