The 'Whatever it takes, save future travel' campaign calls on the UK Government to take immediate action to avoid mass insolvencies of UK travel companies, prevent the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs, and ensure customers can receive refunds or book alternative travel arrangements as quickly as possible.

On its website, ABTA states: “This is an unthinkable crisis for everyone, for individuals and businesses and in particular the UK travel industry, which is facing a situation of unprecedented scale.

“Existing regulations are not able to deal with this unforeseen global shutdown, and without urgent additional help, perfectly viable and normally successful UK travel businesses, employing tens of thousands of people, are at risk of going bankrupt.”

According to ABTA, strengthening the regulatory basis and extending the window for  refund credit notes, as a short-term alternative to cash refunds, will provide businesses with vital breathing space, while ensuring all consumer protections are carried forward.

It says: “While this will involve a delay for consumers in receiving their money, or booking a replacement holiday arrangement, the alternative is mass travel company failures. That outcome would mean customers waiting longer to receive their money and would also result in a far worse financial outcome for the Government, which acts as the financial guarantor of the UK’s holiday-based financial protection scheme.

“This is about supporting businesses through an entirely unforeseeable, and short-term, cashflow crunch – customers will not lose their right to a refund, and their money is not at risk.”

You can support the campaign here.