Collapsed airlines to fly passengers home under new government proposal
Under a new government proposal, aeroplanes owned by collapsed airlines could be used to repatriate passengers to the UK, instead of being grounded.
The proposed legislation comes in the wake of Thomas Cook’s collapse, which required the Civil Aviation Authority to find 150 aircraft and operate almost 700 flights at a total cost of £100m.
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The plans would see the collapsed airline carriers placed into “special administration” so aircraft and crew could continue flying in the short-term.
The existing system requires the immediate grounding of planes when an airline goes bust, which leaves passengers at risk of being stranded.
The proposal would mean the CAA could use an airline’s existing infrastructure, planes and staff to bring holidaymakers home, which was previously not possible under UK’s insolvency laws.
It would mean less disruption and use less of taxpayers money.
The recommendation comes from a review into airline insolvency published in May.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “We’ve seen recently the huge impact airlines collapsing can have on passengers and staff.
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“To bring over 140,000 Thomas Cook passengers home, the government and UK CAA worked together round the clock and, with the support of people across the globe, carried out the biggest peacetime repatriation exercise in UK history.
“I’m determined to bring in a better system to deal with similar situations in future, helping ensure passengers are protected and brought home quickly and safely.