Posted 17 Dec 2009

Gap year travellers, people on career breaks and other travellers should be offered support by the British government if they are stranded overseas by an airline.

Such is the opinion of Mark Tanzer, chief executive of ABTA – The Travel Association, who made his remarks after Scottish airline Flyglobespan suspended its operations, leaving people stranded and out of pocket.

The body noted that those who booked package holidays with the company are protected under the Air Travel Organiser License and will be flown home for free by the Civil Aviation Authority.

However, those who did not book package holidays and simply purchased flights, will not be offered this protection.

"The government must take action so that airline customers are no longer treated as second-class citizens and have the same level of protection that tour operators have provided to their customers for over 30 years," Mr Tanzer concluded.

A number of carriers, including easyJet and Ryanair, have offered help to people who have been stranded as a result of the Flyglobespan suspension.

Category: General Travel