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This figure equates to more than two thirds of those stranded abroad as a result of the volcanic ash situation. ABTA believes that the vast majority of stranded passengers will be back home by the end of the week ending 30 April.

Mark Tanzer, ABTA Chief Executive said: “While most flights are back to normal, and most stranded British passengers will be back by the end of this weekend, there is still quite a high level of disruption in some destinations. In some areas of the world, there is a significant lack of air capacity to enable British people to be returned quickly. ABTA, its Members and the Foreign Office have been working together to bring people back as quickly as possible.”

Over the past week, ABTA Members have been working round the clock to help stranded customers, or those whose holidays have been cancelled. 

ABTA tour operators have provided assistance to stranded passengers on a day to day basis, and put together contingency plans to bring people back to the UK. They have chartered extra flights and found alternative forms of transport.

Travel agents have provided invaluable advice and help to customers in rebooking new holidays and helping with the process of refunds. Agents are often able to get through to travel suppliers far quicker than consumers themselves. When they can’t, travel agent staff have been spending their time and money on premium telephone lines sourcing alternatives as part of their after sales service. Some agents have even literally gone more than the ‘extra mile’ by driving to pick up stranded customers and returning them home.

ABTA Members have also had back up from their trade association as ABTA has been providing up to the minute information from all the relevant authorities. Through the past week ABTA has helped members with understanding their legal obligations and has met with Ministers and Government departments to provide information on Members’ activities and requests. 

Mark Tanzer added: “Our Members have done everything they can to look after customers so that they are not on their own. The feedback we have had is that many thousands of people have been delighted and profoundly relieved that they chose to book with an ABTA Member.”

ABTA has updated www.abta.com with more information for consumers whose travel arrangements have been disrupted.

23 April 2010

For further information contact:
Sean Tipton, Senior Press Officer, tel: 020 3117 0513,
Frances Tuke, Public Relations Manager, tel: 020 3117 0514, Mobile 07850 712325,
Casia Zajac, Head of Communications, tel: 020 3117 0515, Mobile: 0754 592 7411
Out of Hours:  Contact the Duty Press Officer via pager: 07659 190987
E-mail: press@abta.co.uk
Web: www.abta.com
 
Notes to Editors
ABTA – The Travel Association was founded in 1950 and currently has 1,351 members with 5,700 outlets. Members include travel agents, tour operators and support services right across the spectrum from small family-owned businesses to the largest tour operators. 

ABTA is the largest travel association in the UK and its members provide 90% of the foreign package holidays in the UK as well as selling millions of independent travel arrangements. 

In 2008 ABTA merged with the Federation of Tour Operators [FTO], thereby cementing its role as the leading travel association and increasing benefits for both ABTA and FTO members. Both the ABTA brand which is highly recognised by consumers and the FTO brand which is well known in destinations will be retained.

As part of its comprehensive package of services to members, ABTA, as a non-party political organisation works to represent the interests of its Members to government and key opinion formers in the UK and EU.