§ Mr. McCrindleTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in the light of the recent failure of a scheduled service airline, he has any plans to introduce a compensation scheme similar to that which applies to charter airlines under the air tour operators licence scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThere are no plans to introduce such a scheme at present. However, the International Air 939W Transport Association, of which most international scheduled service airlines are members, has guidelines to protect passengers in these circumstances. Passengers holding tickets for flights with an airline providing scheduled services which ceases trading but which is a member of the association should be able to transfer at no extra cost to a flight of another airline which is also a member.