ABTA and the Business Travel Association (BTA) have welcomed the announcement by Chancellor Rishi Sunak to extend the governments furlough plan.
Mr Sunak announced plans to extend the furlough system under the current format until the end of July, followed by a reduced government subsidy from August to October with the option of allowing furloughed employees to return to work on a part-time basis.
While the extension was welcomed by ABTA, the association has highlighted the need for other measures to protect the travel industry and save jobs as part of its #SaveFutureTravel campaign. As well as the furlough extension, ABTA is calling for guidance and clarity in regard to refunds for package holidays, such as confirming that refund credit notes are financially protected; working with the insurance industry to ensure customers can obtain adequate travel insurance once FCO restrictions are lifted; and ensuring quarantine measures are part of a wider, proportionate, science-based strategy, including consideration of FCO advice, and only to what is necessary to protect public health.
Mark Tanzer, ABTA?s chief executive, commented: ?We have been actively lobbying the Government to extend the furlough scheme to help prevent mass job losses impacting the industry at the end of June, so today?s announcement will be welcome news to the many travel agents and operators who are having to make incredibly difficult decisions about people?s jobs during this crisis. However, travel business and their customers still need urgent intervention and guidance in a number of other important areas. Above all else, we need the Government to develop and set out a wider strategy for supporting the travel industry and its customers through this crisis that covers areas including refunds and potential travel restrictions.?
Clive Wratten, CEO of the BTA, said the extended furlough scheme will be "a great support to millions, especially those across the business travel supply chain".
"We will continue to examine the details as they emerge and look forward to even greater collaboration with the Government to get Britain moving again as soon as it is safe to do so," he added.
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