Meanwhile, a new poll finds holidays are being cancelled because of household bill increases, while P&O Ferries has been stopped from making another pay cut.

Here is the news affecting travel on Monday 25 April.

Give CAA greater powers, MPs say

The UK’s aviation watchdog should have stronger powers to protect passengers hit by the kind of disruption caused by the pandemic, MPs have recommended. The CAA should have "more teeth" to fine airlines not giving refunds, a Commons Transport Committee report said in its report, UK Aviation: Reform For Take-Off. (BBC News)

Covid travel restrictions were ‘disproportionate’

Travel restrictions that were “disproportionate to the risks to public health” caused severe damage to the UK’s aviation industry, the Transport Select Committee has said. In a highly critical report, MPs say the government’s frequently changing Covid-19 rules were not based on scientific evidence. (The Independent)

Household bill increases prompts holiday cancellations

One in six people have cancelled holiday plans because of soaring energy costs and other household bills. A poll found half of those surveyed will not be able to afford energy costs within a matter of months. (Daily Mirror)

P&O Ferries backtracks on latest pay cut

P&O Ferries has been forced to reverse an attempt to pay its new, cheaper seafarers less money. It comes after the RMT Union received reports of agency workers at Dover being asked to sign contracts with reduced payment. P&O was reported to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which stepped in. The ferry company has not commented. (BBC News)

Hotel groups under pressure to sever ties with Russia

The world’s biggest hotel groups have come under renewed pressure to cut operating contracts in Russia after Best Western and Hyatt became the first to terminate deals with Russian hotel owners. (Financial Times)

Environmental disaster feared in Galapagos Islands

A diving boat carrying 47 diesel barrels sank off the coast of one of Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands on Saturday. The vessel went down near the island of Santa Cruz, according to the state-run oil company Petroecuador. The company said a contingency plan had been activated, with containment booms set up around the site of the sinking. (The Daily Mail)

French president secures second term

Emmanuel Macron has won five more years as France’s president after a convincing victory over far-right rival Marine Le Pen. Macron won by 58.55% to 41.45%. He is the first sitting president in 20 years to be re-elected. (BBC News)