Local Euro MP and Labour Transport Spokesman in the European Parliament, Brian Simpson, has called on EU and UK authorities to put in place a better system of repatriating EU citizens who find themselves stranded when an airline or travel company goes bust.  Recent events involving the collapse of XL Holidays and a number of airlines have highlighted gaps in the system of passenger protection, which has left many people stranded without help.

“When an airline or travel company goes bust, I think it is wrong that some people get rescued, whilst others are left to their own devices.  Lessons need to be learnt from the XL debacle and regulations put in place that ensures everybody gets repatriated as soon as possible and at no extra personal cost” said Mr Simpson.

Speaking at an international Transport Conference in Poland, Mr Simpson put forward the view that an ABTA and ATOL type bond should be compulsory for all airlines and travel companies operating to and from the EU and that this should be administered at national level with EU involvement, to ensure that all member states are involved.

I addition, Mr Simpson also wants to see the laws on insolvency changed, so that aircraft can be released to national governments to assist repatriation, instead of impounded by liquidators as at the moment.

“It became very apparent during the XL debacle, that those people who booked a flight only, or who were not covered by the ABTA bond, were not only left to sort themselves out, but had to pay high air fares in order to get home.  This cannot be right.  Neither can it be right to have a shortage of aircraft on the one hand, but have a number of aircraft impounded, laying idle on the other.  Civil Aviation is very keen to get people to fly; but it also has an international obligation to bring people home quickly when things go wrong” stated Mr Simpson.

Recent airline failures (there have been 20 so far this year worldwide) have affected not only UK citizens, but many others throughout the EU and with the present economic problems and high fuel prices, many believe more failures are inevitable, making the issue of a proper repatriation plan even more pressing if consumers are to be protected.

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