Government

'Engage your candidates' says Abta as Sunak calls general election

’Now is the time to engage with candidates locally to make sure they recognise the value of travel and tourism,’ says Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer

'Critical issues to overcome' ahead of new EU border rules, govt warned

Kent’s transport and tourism authorities have urged the government to ensure a seamless rollout of the new EU border rules

Govt vows to keep economy 'ship-shape' following Clia meeting

Tourism minister Julia Lopez met the cruise trade body on the French cruise line’s Le Dumont d’Urville on Tuesday (21 May)

Aviation growth could unlock billions in wasted economic potential – study

New research commissioned by Manchester Airports Group suggests greater government support for aviation could unlock more than £10 billion in economic value

UK ‘unprepared for new EU border rules’, says Lords committee

Lords casts doubts over the UK’s preparedness for the implementation of new national and European border rules

Heathrow Border Force officials set to strike over half-term

PCS union says Border Force members at Heathrow will walk out again over half-term in a continued dispute about rostering

Advantage confident package travel and Atol reforms will deliver better rules

Variable Atol protection contribution likely but proposed new rules around segregation of client monies likely to be ’watered down’ says Advantage chief operating officer Paul Nunn

Advantage fixes sights on being the 'voice of authority' for agents

Chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said tells Advantage conference delegates her consortium will continue to champion agents as being uniquely placed to help travellers navigate an ’increasingly complex’ world

Advantage chief: 'Travel must come together behind a single aim'

‘During Covid, many industry leaders talked about never wanting to be in the same position again should there be another crisis – so where are we now, and what have we learned?’ asks Julia Lo Bue-Said

Balearics introduces street drinking ban as part of responsible tourism push

People caught drinking alcohol in public in specific zones in Majorca and Ibiza are at risk of being fined up to €1,500 (£1,300)

Travel poised for continuous growth despite economic and political challenges

Delegates at the Barclays Travel Forum were told travel had a great 2023, with 2024 set to be even better

National eGates failure 'raises questions about UK's readiness for EU Entry-Exit scheme'

Border minister apologises for eGates outage on Tuesday night, while Advantage chief Julia Lo Bue-Said calls for ’robust’ contingency planning to mitigate any future incidents

Airport eGates back online after four-hour nationwide outage

Issues reported at Heathrow, Gatwick, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Bristol, Newcastle and Manchester airports on Tuesday evening

Airlines given a month to act on misleading ‘greenwash’ claims

The European Commission has told 20 airlines they must stop making misleading green claims within 30 days or face a clampdown

'Tell us what you want from the next government' – Abta

Abta-led Future Travel Coalition seeks views from the trade to inform its pre-election activity in the lead up to the general election

Heathrow expecting 'busiest summer on record' despite strike threats

UK’s busiest airport says it has a ’robust operating plan in place’ to guard against disruption from strike action

Industry renews plea for sustainable fuel support as govt mandate beckons

Airline groups have called for greater government involvement in SAF and hydrogen production, and infrastructure, ahead of an expected mandate from the DfT this week

'We've moved the dial on youth mobility – it's vital to travel's future talent pipeline'

Any failure by the UK government to negotiate a youth mobility framework with the EU risks turning off the industry’s future talent pipeline, Abta’s director of public affairs Luke Petherbridge writes for TTG

Travelling public not convinced airports and airlines 'ready for summer getaway'

Fewer than half of the respondents to a CAA passenger survey said they believed the industry is prepared for the busy summer period

Industry united on need to reform air passenger compensation laws, says DfT

The Department for Transport says it is still hopeful of changing EU261 passenger compensation laws following Brexit, something that has broad industry support

Brexit ban on overseas staff may be overturned as EU urges talks

The European Commission has said it wishes to open negotiations on allowing young Britons to work in the EU again after the right was removed by Brexit

Abta sustainable travel conference to explore social and environmental successes and challenges

The full-day Abta event in London on 15 May will give delegates insights into the success and challenges that travel businesses have faced in ensuring growth that benefits communities and the environment

CAA chiefs plead to MPs for powers to tackle rogue airlines and match rising consumer expectation

Parliament’s transport committee told the authority need similar powers to other watchdogs to bring airlines into line on issues like consumer welfare and refunds

Travel entering ‘pivotal five-year period’ as general election looms – Abta

The association has published a manifesto ahead of the imminent poll to ensure travel’s needs are publicly outlined to parliamentarians