Latest News Stories

The FTO is regularly asked to provide press statements in regard to headlines affecting our industry, members and their customers

Our Latest News Stories page is updated as soon as we have information to update our Members with. For historical news items go to our News Archive page.

• 19th Dec 2009Failure of Allbury Travel Group Ltd -ATOL 0324Trading as: Argo Holidays, Asiaworld, Caribworld, Goldenjoy Holidays, Libra Diving, Libra Flights, Libra Holidays, Allbury Travel Group, Libra Weddings, Magical Cyprus, Magical Greece, Priceright Beds.com, Priceright Flights.com, Priceright Holidays and Priceright Holidays.com. Date of Failure: 18 December 2009
• 08th Dec 2009‘Safe & Sound’ - New Health and Safety DVDThe Federation of Tour Operators and ABTA, have launched a brand new Health & Safety training DVD which features broadcaster Konnie Huq and respected health and safety consultant Ian Greaves from IGI as the industry best practice training tool for holiday accommodation.
• 30th Nov 2009ABTA Calls for action from the European Union over Tourists’ SafetyA delegation lead by ABTA Chief Executive, Mark Tanzer and including senior representatives from Thomas Cook and TUI, has just returned from a lobbying mission to Brussels to persuade European policy makers of the pressing need to introduce a new Directive on Tourist Accommodation Safety.
• 25th Nov 2009FINANCIAL PROTECTION IN THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY: CONSULTATIONS TO KICK OFF REFORMA consultation on the review of the EU’s Package Travel Directive will tomorrow kick off the first of three consultations in the important area of financial protection. It’s anticipated that these consultations will instigate major reforms which will protect more consumers and potentially, will have far reaching implications for travel businesses.
• 23rd Nov 2009ABTA BOARD MAKES NEW APPOINTMENTSTwo new appointments are announced today by the ABTA board which will strengthen the representation and public affairs role of the travel association.
• 09th Nov 2009ABTA’s New Destination Strategy and Services Team at WTMABTA’s Destination Strategy and Services team, which has been formed from a key area of work of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO), will have a high profile at this year’s World Travel Market.
• 09th Nov 2009Air Passenger Duty – Gathering Industry Support at WTMBefore he officially starts his role at ABTA as Head of Public Affairs, Luke Pollard will join ABTA’s Manager,Trade Relations, Susan Parsons and the Destination Strategy and Services team at World Travel Market to talk to destinations about Air Passenger Duty and discuss lobbying strategies for the next 12 months.
• 30th Oct 2009Debra Routledge New Travelife Sales and Marketing ExecutiveDebra Routledge, formerly at the Carbon Neutral Company, Red Letter Days and Inghams has joined ABTA to be the Sales and Marketing Executive for the Travelife Sustainability System and will be part of ABTA’s Destination Strategy and Services Team at World Travel Market.
• 29th Oct 2009Air Passenger Duty – a Tax Rise too FarFrom this Sunday 1 November 2009 Air Passenger Duty rises so that a family of four flying to the USA will pay £180 in tax and £240 from November 2010 when the aviation poll tax is set to rise again.
• 28th Oct 2009ABTA and FTO Host Gas Safety RoundtableABTA and the FTO hosted the first of a series of health and safety roundtables last week in the House of Commons.
• 21st Oct 2009ABTA Statement on Sale of Gatwick AirportABTA broadly welcomed the announcement today that Gatwick Airport is to be sold by its current owners BAA to Global Infrastructure Partners.
• 15th Oct 2009ABTA and the Foreign Office agree to work closer togetherABTA and the FTO met today with Chris Bryant Minister for Consular Affairs to discuss closer co-operation to reduce the number of consular cases caused by irresponsible behaviour. Both parties recognised the good work being done by both to reduce the problem.
• 14th Oct 2009ABTA Says Rise in Flying Tax Will Damage Regional AirportsABTA is calling on the Government to rethink its decision to increase Air Passenger Duty from 1 November as this may lead to many hard pressed airlines reconsidering their routes out of regional airports as well as raising the cost of holidays for families and others on tight budgets.
• 08th Oct 2009Tourism 2023: Towards a Sustainable Travel and Tourism IndustryLeading players in UK tourism pledged today to create a strong and profitable industry for the future, which benefits tourist destinations and protects the environment.
• 06th Oct 2009ABTA TRAVEL BUDDY: HELPING TO KEEP HOLIDAYMAKERS SAFEABTA is launching ABTA Travel Buddy, a new email and mobile SMS text service for Members which will enable them to provide essential holiday information to customers after they book, before they travel and in emergencies while they are away.
• 02nd Oct 2009ABTA Welcomes General Meeting VoteAt a General Meeting held in ABTA offices today, ABTA Members have voted to change the Articles of the Association to reinforce the duty that ABTA suppliers must honour payment collected on their behalf by retailers if the retailer fails financially.
• 09th Sep 2009ABTA Makes Two Senior AppointmentsABTA has made two new senior appointments, Head of Public Affairs and Head of Destination Strategy and Services both of whom will join ABTA’s management team. These appointments to key positions follow a restructuring which took place earlier this year.
• 09th Sep 2009ABTA’s Response to the Climate Change Committee ReportMark Tanzer ABTA Chief Executive said “We have always fully supported the need for aviation as well as other forms of transport to manage their carbon emissions while balancing this against the customer’s legitimate aspiration to travel.
• 26th Aug 2009ABTA LAUNCHES FIRST ‘RESPONSIBLE HOLIDAY’ DIRECTORYNew system allows consumers to choose sustainable hotels from responsible tour operators
• 06th Aug 2009Sunvil Holidays has joined leading Green InitiativeLeading independent specialist tour operator Sunvil Holidays, is the latest travel company to sign up to the Travelife Sustainability System, a sustainable tourism tool which is supported by a growing number of European trade associations, including the Federation of Tour Operators.
• 04th Aug 2009Stop the Government Taxing Families out of the SkiesABTA is calling on families to write to their MPs and sign up to an online petition to stop the Government increasing the already heavy tax burden on families as they head off for their well earned summer holidays. From 1 November 2009 the Government is intending to raise Air Passenger Duty so that a family of four flying to Florida will pay £180 in tax and a whopping £240 next year when the aviation poll tax is set to rise again. The UK Government is the only one in the world to tax air passengers in this way and these rises will hit families particularly hard as they struggle with the impact of the recession.
• 20th Jul 2009Swine Flu: ABTA’s Advice to HolidaymakersIt is essential that you take out travel insurance at the time of booking. If you or your immediate family are unlucky enough to contract swine flu shortly before you are due to travel you should contact your tour operator, airline and insurance company to cancel your trip. Advice on the symptoms of swine flu and further medical advice are available at www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Flu/Swineflu/index.htm
• 16th Jul 2009ABTA Chairman Calls on Industry to Unite Against APD RisesABTA Chairman John McEwan has called on travel bodies such as the Scottish Passenger Agents Association, Passenger Shipping Association and Association of Independent tour Operators to unite with ABTA in calling on the Government to rethink its intention to hike Air Passenger Duty [APD] in November 2009 and again in 2010.
• 16th Jul 2009ABTA Response to APC IncreaseABTA today responded positively to the announcement that the planned increase in APC will be restricted to £2.50 per passenger.
• 14th Jul 2009ABTA Issues Health and Safety AdviceAs millions of British travellers head overseas or to the coast over the next six weeks, ABTA is urging holidaymakers not to forget some basic health and safety points with a new leaflet – How to Have a Safe and Healthy Holiday.
• 29th Jun 2009The Co-operative Travel Signs Up to Green Initiative The Co-operative Travel, is the latest travel business to sign up to the Travelife Sustainability System, a sustainable tourism tool which is supported by a growing number of European trade associations, including ABTA’s Federation of Tour Operators.
• 17th Jun 2009ABTA StatementMark Tanzer, Chief Executive of ABTA, today announced to staff proposed structural changes in the organisation. These changes are part of the continuing integration of ABTA and FTO, following last year’s amalgamation, and part of a wider efficiency drive which includes the recent relocation to smaller premises.
• 11th Jun 2009ABTA/FTO Updates Flu AdviceABTA and FTO have updated a letter for Members to distribute to suppliers and customer noticeboards to reflect the changes to the Pandemic Flu alert level so that suppliers and customers are fully informed of the relevant facts.
• 11th Jun 2009ABTA sends a strong message to the CAAABTA has responded to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) consultation on increasing the ATOL passenger contribution (APC) levy with a call for an extension to the scope of the ATOL scheme to provide financial protection to more holidaymakers.
• 14th May 2009Mallorca Hotels Introduced to the Travelife Sustainability SystemABTA's FTO team has completed three workshops across Mallorca for hotel and accommodation providers to find out more about the Travelife Sustainability System, the industry’s leading environmental protection programme.
• 28th Apr 2009Mexico Flu Outbreak - Update - 28th April 2009FCO advises against non-essential travel to Mexico.
• 27th Apr 2009Swine Influenza in MexicoCurrent information regarding Swine Influenza
• 21st Apr 2009Kuoni Signs Up to Green InitiativeLeading long haul specialist tour operator Kuoni, is the latest travel company to sign up to the Travelife Sustainability System, a sustainable tourism tool which is supported by a growing number of European trade associations, including the Federation of Tour Operators.
• 11th Feb 2009FTO are on the move!FTO are relocating to London with effect from Monday 16th February 2009. Our new contact details are as follows:-
• 05th Feb 2009New Guidelines on Transport Safety issued by the Federation of Tour OperatorsThe Federation of Tour Operators has drafted a new code of practice providing comprehensive and clear cut guidelines for the safe provision of land transport arrangements. With safety standards varying widely worldwide, the FTO code incorporates years of experience with best practice lessons gained in many countries to provide much needed consistency.
• 12th Sep 2008ABTA renews pressure on Government to reform financial protection.Following the failure of XL Leisure Group today, ABTA Chief Executive, Mark Tanzer, called on Government to reform the structure of financial protection.
• 29th Aug 2008ABTA Members offer greater protection against Airline Collapse Yet again many hundreds of customers stand to lose money and will be left stranded abroad following the collapse of an airline. The failure of Zoom demonstrates that the modern package holiday provides more than just good value, infinite variety and incredible choice coupled with the flexibility that travellers today demand. It shows that the package remains the leading product offering unrivalled financial protection for customers.
• 28th Jul 2008FTO launches Animal Attraction Initiative to support animal welfare abroad Members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) have re-affirmed their long-standing commitment to improving animal welfare standards worldwide with the launch of an initiative which will see a detailed assessment of tourist suppliers against the newly revised Travelife Animal Attraction Guidelines.
• 02nd Jul 2008APD Court of Appeal JudgementThe Federation of Tour Operators is disappointed and surprised that the Court of Appeal has today dismissed its appeal against the judgment of its case by Mr Justice Stanley Burnton in the High Court into the Government's introduction of the doubling of Air Passenger Duty. It is now reviewing future options open to it.
• 01st Jul 2008ABTA AND FTO JOIN TOGETHER The Boards of ABTA and the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) are pleased to announce that they have amalgamated the two organisations with effect from today, 1 July 2008.
• 10th Jun 2008FTO calls for financial protection for all air travellers Airlines are facing difficult times with high and rising jet fuel prices, a global economic downturn, ever fiercer competition from and between the no frills carriers, and rising airport security costs, says Andrew Cooper, Director General of the Federation of Tour Operators.

Press enquiries should be addressed to:
ABTA Press Office: 020-3117-0500
Out of Hours:  Contact the Duty Press Officer via pager: 07659 190987
E-mail: press@abta.co.uk