Civil Aviation Bill

Last week Aviation Minister Theresa Villiers introduced a Civil Aviation Bill into Parliament.  It will be fully debated on 30 January.  Villiers said the wider powers in the Bill “will put the needs of passengers unambiguously at the heart of how our major airports are run.”  Under the new rules, the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) will be able to intervene much more quickly when an airport is failing passengers, for example on winter preparedness.

The core of the legislation redefines the role of the regulator, the CAA, giving it a single primary duty to promote the interests of passengers – as opposed to all airport users as is the case now. 

The CAA will also become responsible for overseeing aviation security, although the Government will retain control of security policy.  However its cost will be transferred from the Treasury to the aviation sector.

One important clause in the Bill proposes to bring holidays sold by airlines into the ATOL (Air Travel Organisers' Licensing) insurance scheme, an idea supported by ABTA.

A Department for Transport statement on the full range of ATOL reform proposals is expected within days. www.dft.gov.uk

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