The Government is setting up an Aviation Council to ensure its post-COVID strategy for the industry is implemented.
The Aviation Council will be made up of industry and Government representatives, including those from the Devolved Administrations.
One of the key developments will be an Aviation Passenger Charter to ensure consumers know their rights when flying.
It will be developed in partnership with the industry and consumer groups and will be launched later this year.
Also in the 10-point plan are a commitment to ‘unlocking local benefits and levelling up’, making the UK ‘the best place in the world for general aviation’ and improving the consumer experience, including the new charter.
Aviation Minister Robert Courts said: “The pandemic posed an existential threat to the aviation sector. Now recovery has started, we have a chance to build back better than before.”
“By working closely with the sector to focus on sustainable growth, we can ensure aviation creates jobs and opportunities across the UK.”
Consumer champion Which? said it welcomes the passenger charter but said existing passenger rights need to be enforced.
Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said: “Poor treatment of passengers by some airlines has become routine – as we saw with carriers ignoring their legal obligations on refunds, rerouting and passenger rights during the pandemic and recent chaos at our airports.
“There is much work to be done to restore consumer trust and the government must deliver reforms that work for passengers. The new aviation council would be better placed to improve the travel experience with passenger and consumer groups as members.
“While a passenger charter is welcome, what passengers really need is a regulator to enforce the rights they already have. That’s why Which? has been calling for the Civil Aviation Authority to be given direct fining powers, so it can effectively hold carriers to account when they flout the law.
“We also urge the Department for Transport to drop its plans to significantly water down passenger rights to compensation for UK domestic flights. These rights, as well as ensuring fairness for consumers, offer an important deterrent against flight cancellations which must be preserved.”
