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      UK government backs refund credit notes

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      The UK travel industry has welcomed announcements from the department for transport and the CAA that ATOL protection will be extended to cover refund credit notes.
      The notes have been issued in place of cash refunds in recent weeks, as the hospitality industry battles a huge backlog of cancellations in the wake of the Covid-19 shutdown.
      But there have been questions over their legitimacy.
      Package travel regulations require refunds for cancelled holidays to be paid in 14-days.
      However, travel companies have argued that, if they adhered to requirements amid wholesale cancellations, most would be put out of business.
      Refund credit notes were seen as a compromise, allowing travellers to rebook at a later date.
      In a long-awaited decision, the CAA said: “This news will provide clarity to consumers concerned as to whether their money would be secure if they chose to accept a refund credit note from their travel company following a cancellation of their ATOL-protected booking.
      “To ensure consumers that hold ATOL-protected bookings retain financial protection, refund credit notes issued in respect of these bookings will benefit from ATOL protection up until September 30th.
      “If the consumer chooses a refund credit note, they should have the option to convert it to a cash refund at any point and must do so before September 30th, 2021.”
      However, the CAA added consumers are entitled to a cash refund and must be offered this option at the same time as a refund credit note or booking amendment.

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      In response to the announcement, an ABTA spokesperson said: “ABTA welcomes the government’s action to back refund credit notes through the ATOL scheme; this gives reassurance to consumers and supports the travel industry at an especially difficult time.
      “This development verifies that the ATOL scheme provides protection for cancelled holidays when a refund remains outstanding in the event of a travel organiser’s failure.
      “This is the same for non-flight-based package travel with ABTA bonding under the package travel regulations.
      “This assurance enables consumers to hold and rely on Refund Credit Notes with confidence, before rebooking a much-needed holiday.”
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      Solombrino departs GBTA following misconduct investigation

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      The Global Business Travel Association has said a third-party investigation into professional work conduct allegations against chief executive Scott Solombrino has concluded there was “no legal wrongdoing on his part”.
      Solombrino was appointed to the role in April this year.
      However, he was almost immediately suspended after directors at the organisation received an anonymous letter asserting unspecified allegations against him.
      The board subsequently launched an independent investigation – which discovered no wrongdoing.
      However, after being cleared of the allegations, Solombrino and the GBTA board have agreed it was appropriate for him to pursue other opportunities.

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      GBTA interim executive director, Dave Hilfman, stated: “We thank Scott for his 25-years of service to GBTA and his passion and commitment to advancing the travel industry. 
      “We wish Scott success in his future endeavours.”
      The Global Business Travel Association is a business travel and meetings trade organisation headquartered in the United States with area with operations on six continents.
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      ABTA launches Covid-19-proof travel insurance product

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      ABTA has launched of a new travel insurance product, ABTA Travel Sure.
      The body hopes the product will appeal to people with existing or rescheduled holiday bookings to countries exempted from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s current advice against all but essential travel.
      The insurance will explicitly cover Covid-19 medical expenses while on holiday.
      After this launch, ABTA members will have a long-term opportunity to promote ABTA Travel Sure which, depending on their level of involvement, may require them to become either an introducer appointed representative or appointed representative.
      The product is underwritten by AXA.

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      Ian Hall, head of travel insurance at ABTA, said: “Insurance has an important role to play in giving people confidence to book now travel is restarting.
      “We have known for some time that there is demand in the market for a travel insurance product that consumers can put their trust in and having initially put our plans tolaunch ABTA Travel Sure on hold because of the pandemic we are now in a position to assist the industry in its recovery.”
      He added: “The consumer awareness and trust in the ABTA brand means we are well placed to provide this service and we’re confident that after this initial roll out ABTA Travel Sure will provide Members with a long term opportunity to benefit from selling this high-quality travel insurance product.”
      Find out more here.
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      Jet2.com launches first post-Covid-19 holidays

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      Jet2.com launches first post-Covid-19 holidays

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      Jet2.com waved customers off to sunny hotspots this morning, as the airline and tour operator recommenced its holiday programme.
      Almost 50 flights departed today from across Manchester, Birmingham, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, Glasgow Newcastle and London Stansted Airports.
      Travellers were headed to the Canaries, Balearics, Spain, Turkey, Greece and Italy.
      Flights and holidays will commence from Belfast International and Edinburgh in the coming days.

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      With pent-up demand for a well-deserved holiday, the package holiday specialist will operate to 44 destinations this summer, providing fantastic choice when it comes to customers’ well-deserved holidays, as well as assurance that it will be quarantine-free. 
      Independent travel agents will also benefit from the company’s continued partnership approach, with a raft of new virtual support initiatives helping them to sell and rebook summer holidays.
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      Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “We have been saying for some time that the sun will shine again and that when it does, we will be there to take customers away on their well-deserved holidays.
      “That day has finally arrived, and we were delighted to see our first of flights take off.
      “It is fantastic to be back in the air and recommencing our award-winning flights and package holidays to sunny destinations across Europe, the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands.
      “The safety, well-being and comfort of our customers is our number one priority.
      “Thanks to our three-step pledge, customers are in safe hands when they travel with us.
      “Through our industry-leading customer service, customers know they can rely on us to deliver everything needed to make their holiday a happy and healthy one.”
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