The new government said that the bill would ensure that Atol “keeps pace with innovation in the online travel market, and that appropriate protection is in place regardless of whether consumers book online or the high street”.
The Department for Transport will update Atol to “align it with enhancements to the EU and UK Package Travel Regulations”. The new regulations are due to be implemented in the UK next year.
An Abta spokesperson said: “We are going through the bill’s proposals in detail and will be meeting with the CAA in the near future to discuss them.” He added that it was “too early” to give further details. The CAA said it could not comment at this stage.
One big issue not mentioned in the Queen’s Speech was the plan to expand Heathrow airport, but campaigners say this does not mean that a third runway is under threat.
Theresa May’s government approved the third Heathrow runway last October, but even with the new deal agreed with the Democratic Unionist Party, May’s position is weakened in the House of Commons and many in her own party have constituencies close to Heathrow and oppose expansion.
Campaigners point out, however, that there will be no vote on the issue this year, so a revolt is unlikely.
Dale Keller, chief executive of the Board of Airline Representatives in the UK, said the majority of MPs were in favour rather than against expansion at the west London airport.
“There’s a good number of Labour MPs, particularly in the north, that we know support Heathrow, whereas some London MPs don’t. I don’t think there’s a crisis facing us,” he added.
Keller said the issue did not have to be mentioned in the Queen’s Speech as the process was already under way. The next stage is for the Transport Select Committee to be re-established following the election.
It will then scrutinise a National Policy Statement covering safeguards such as noise and emissions, with a final draft to be voted on by parliament. Keller said the vote was likely “in the second half of next year”.
