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line with Abta guidance drawn up with the CAA. A senior industry source


attributed Tolhurst’s remark that protection depends on the contract to being “terrified of someone thinking they confirmed flight-only is protected”. The same source said: “What


is pacey about this? It’s hugely frustrating and bad government. The risk [of failures] has been increased by their inaction.” Asked about delays in airlines


paying refunds, Tolhurst said: “We’re clear customers are entitled to refunds.” But she added: “We’re trying


to take a pragmatic view. This legislation was not designed for a situation like this.” CAA chief executive Richard


Moriarty confirmed the regulator is reviewing carriers’ handling of refunds. But he told MPs: “The


question is how quickly airlines can pay refunds to consumers and tour operators. All the airlines we regulate have said they are paying refunds.” He added: “We’re supportive


of vouchers and rebooking where these suit customers. Many airlines have been badly hit in terms of staff not being able to access offices. As the lockdown eases we would expect airlines to clear the backlog.” Moriarty was not asked to


confirm whether refund credit notes are Atol-protected. The CMA Covid-19 Taskforce


confirmed “package holidays have now been included” among the sectors it’s investigating “as a result of the rise in the number of complaints”. Abta said it “supports the CMA’s


position”, but a senior industry source suggested: “It doesn’t help in terms of confidence.”


BA criticised for planning ‘opportunistic’ job cuts


Ian Taylor


MPs and unions slammed British Airways for its plans to make 12,000 redundancies and slash the pay and conditions of remaining staff. The chairman of Parliament’s


Transport Select Committee, Huw Merriman MP, accused BA and Willie Walsh, head of parent company IAG, of being “opportunistic”. Merriman told aviation minister


Kelly Tolhurst: “Willie Walsh has tried to change the terms and conditions of BA staff before and failed. The Covid-19 crisis appears to


BA is planning 12,000 job cuts


give him an opportunity to put these changes through before he rides off into the sunset.” Fellow committee member Rob


Langan MP said: “The government is supporting BA, but it appears the financial support is being used as a buffer to progress significant redundancies. It’s a very clear strategy by BA.” Langan asked Tolhurst: “Should


the government continue to give financial aid to BA when 12,000 workers are being made redundant?” Tolhurst told the committee:


“We’ve been clear the job retention


scheme is to retain jobs and we’re willing to have conversations with businesses that need further support. We would rather BA make use of government schemes than make these redundancies. “But businesses will be making


decisions about how to manage their business. Businesses have to make decisions on a commercial basis.” British Airline Pilots’ Association


general secretary Brian Strutton accused airlines of “exaggerating” the impact of the Covid-19 crisis to “downsize operations”. He told MPs: “Airlines are


exaggerating the problems. Some are issuing predictions of five or six years before a recovery that are not in line with industry forecasts.” Strutton said: “We find it


appalling that while we’re in the middle of job retention arrangements, BA has started consultation on redundancies and pay reductions. “This is an opportunistic land grab to exploit the situation.”


‘Airlines’ virus risk assessments are extremely patchy’


Union leaders have accused some airlines of rushing Covid-19 risk assessments in their haste to restart flying. Diane Holland, assistant general


secretary for transport at the Unite union, told MPs: “There is concern about two-metre distancing not being applied.” Appearing before Parliament’s


30 28 MAY 2020


Transport Select Committee, Holland insisted: “We should start with risk assessments.” She acknowledged: “Two-metre


social distancing is extremely difficult in aviation, but you don’t start with the decision not to have it. You don’t start from the premise that it does not apply in aviation.” British Airline Pilots’ Association


general secretary Brian Strutton agreed, saying: “The implementation of risk assessments is extremely patchy. We’re disappointed with some airlines on this.” CAA chief executive Richard Moriarty told the committee:


“The central question is how to build confidence about restarting and recovery. There will need to be measures in place for some time that passengers and workers have confidence in.”


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