ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer has again called on the UK government to ensure that “specific financial support is made available to the travel sector”, following the announcement that people cannot take overseas and UK holidays as part of the second national lockdown.

The news of the month-long lockdown, announced on Saturday evening (31 October), was quickly followed by confirmation from the government that “overnight stays and holidays away from primary residences will not be allowed – this includes holidays abroad and in the UK”.

In an update to ABTA members Tanzer confirmed he is writing to the prime minister, Boris Johnson, and chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to “stress the need for flexibility in the furlough scheme”, which has been extended until the end of November.

Tanzer said: “The decision to prevent people from taking overseas and UK holidays means an effective shut down for travel businesses which have already been severely damaged by the pandemic.

“With the constant chopping and changing of FCDO travel advice and quarantine restrictions – and testing for travel still in the future – the travel industry has not had any opportunity to recover, and now we find ourselves locked down once again.

“While it was necessary for government to extend the furlough scheme, the same problem still applies to travel businesses – staff will be working to deal with re-bookings and refunds but will not be generating any income. It is important that government acknowledges this and ensures furlough is flexible, and that specific financial support is made available to the travel sector.

“I will also be emphasising to the prime minister, and to other government departments, that it is essential they use this lockdown period to work tirelessly to make sure that travel is ready to restart as soon as lockdown ends.

“That means lifting the global travel advisory against non-essential travel by moving back to country-specific advice, introducing a regional rather than whole-country travel corridor policy, and having a testing regime in place and ready to go.”

ABTA position on refunds

As for refunds, Tanzer outlined that as it stands, “customers are entitled to a full refund of the monies they have paid for a package holiday if the FCDO advises against travel to their destination or if the travel services that make up the package are cancelled or significantly altered”.

“It is likely that many customers will find that their flights are cancelled or disrupted as a result of the lockdown,” he added. “Where the package services are still operating as booked, customers should speak to their travel company to discuss what their options are.

“There are likely to be options to amend travel dates beyond the end of the lockdown period. If no alternatives can be arranged customers might receive a part refund although the travel company would be entitled to retain any costs already incurred that could not be recovered from the travel service suppliers.”