Accountable to who

20 working days ago, In the public interest, Trailfinders made a Freedom Of Information Request (FOIR) of the CAA and the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust (ATT). This followed 2 years of chasing the CAA for these accounts, which Trailfinders alone have subsidised by £11M to date. The grand total collected is unknown.

The FOIR was for them to share the accounts for the ATT for 2020/21 and 2022/22 which they have been delinquent in publishing. They will shortly be 3 years behind. It is ironic that this same body is charged with vetting the accounts of the whole industry.

Cynically, on the very last of the 20 working days allowed, they responded to say that they needed another month to consider whether releasing these accounts was ‘in the public interest’.

For a competent public servant, this assessment would have taken minutes and suggests there is something to hide – which was perhaps evident as the accounts exist, but have not been published. Perhaps a measure of self-interest rather than public interest? A shameful performance however you look at it.

3 points of public interest:

1) The ATT accounts are public accounts, produced by a public body and the funds exist to protect the public (ATOL).

2) If the ATT fund is no longer a going concern where does this leave ATOL protection? Are travellers still protected if the funds run out? Should travel companies protect their clients via another means to fulfil the Package Travel Regulations?

3) Are tax-payers exposed to cover any shortfall in the ATT, as was committed to in previous annual ATT accounts? Tax-payers were on the hook for many tens of millions to bring flight only passengers home when Thomas Cook and Monarch failed – another unresolved issue.

Knowing the financial state of the ATT is unequivocally in the public interest – whether good or bad.

Trailfinders have instigated further legal action: to call the CAA and the ATT Trustees to address their public duty.