Branson calls for collapsed airline rules review
14.09.08
Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson has called for an urgent review of rules governing failed airlines in light of the XL collapse on Friday. He said new procedures should be brought in allowing a collapsed firm's fleet of planes to continue to fly under the watch of the aviation regulator.
Sir Richard, president of Virgin Atlantic, made the comments as the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) continues to struggle to airlift repatriate 85,000 people left stranded when XL - the UK's third largest tour operator - went into administration early Friday morning.
The CAA has been forced to charter planes or fill spare seats on already scheduled flights as a result of XL's fleet being grounded. But Sir Richard said that the rules should be changed so that special dispensation is given to failed airlines allowing them to continue to fly but under the authority of the CAA. This would make for less disruption across the industry, he said.
Sir Richard said: ‘There should be an urgent review, if there are going to be more airlines and tour operators casualties, of the way in which the rescue operation is conducted. It does not make sense for aircraft to be lying idle at UK airports when they should be used to bring back stranded passengers of that airline. There is enormous pressure at the moment within the aviation industry to help with the rescue mission, which we are happy to do, but it should not be like this in the future.’
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