MPs attack Government's decision not to introduce flight levy

An influential group of MPs has attacked the Government's decision not to introduce a levy on air travel to protect passengers.

The Transport Select Committee said measures to repatriate tourists at present were "amateurish" and urged ministers to think again.

It said many travellers did not realise that 90% of travel insurance polices would not cover them if the airline they were using went bust.

Transport committee chairman Gwyneth Dunwoody said: "To fail to implement the CAA's advice amounts to allowing the present policy of protection to wither on the vine."

"The advantage of this levy far outweighs the modest additional cost. No one relishes paying more to travel, but there is no practical cost-effective alternative if millions of UK travellers are to have peace of mind."

Back in November 2005 the Civil Aviation Authority called for a £1 levy to be introduced on flights to ensure stranded passengers would be able to get back.

However, the move was rejected by the Government as unnecessary.

Dunwoody said the number of leisure flights protected through the ATOL scheme was in free fall, with just 20% of leisure passengers expected to be covered by 2010.

By Chris Druce

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