Following the UK’s departure from the EU, ABTA – The Travel Association has published new Member guidance to explain the latest developments. Trade talks are set to start shortly and ahead of this ABTA is also stepping up its activity to highlight the industry’s priorities to the UK Government and EU Member States.

The priorities for the industry include a comprehensive air service agreement to protect flights, replacing the mobility benefits of the EU Posted Workers Directive, and retaining reciprocal healthcare. The UK also needs to open discussions with third countries, including Switzerland, around access for occasional coach services.

ABTA remains actively engaged with the UK Government and EU, and recently held important outreach events in Brussels to maintain and extend direct contact with Member States. 

Luke Petherbridge, ABTA’s Head of Public Affairs, says: “The UK has now entered a period of transition until at least the end of December 2020, while the UK and EU negotiate a future relationship. During this time nothing will change for travellers or travel businesses. 

“The risk of no-deal may have subsided for now, but there is much work to be done to help shape the UK’s future relationship with the EU to protect our industry and ensure the public can continue to holiday and travel with the same rights and freedoms as they have today. Throughout the process ABTA has provided advice and guidance to customers and Members on Brexit and will continue to do so.”

The latest Brexit advice for Members is available in the Member Zone, whilst Brexit advice for customers can be found publicly at abta.com/Brexit.

Should ABTA Members have specific queries relating to Brexit they can contact the Member Support team on 020 3117 0597 or the Public Affairs team publicaffairs@abta.co.uk. In the meantime, ABTA will be addressing the vital topic of employment after Brexit at an event in London on 24 February, entitled Brexit - The Immigration and Skills Challenge.

For further information, contact:
Jonathan Smith jsmith@abta.co.uk or press@abta.co.uk
Out of Hours: contact the duty press officer 020 3693 0183
Web: www.abta.com
Twitter: @ABTAtravel
#ABTAat70

Notes to editors
ABTA has been a trusted travel brand for 70 years. Our purpose is to help our Members to grow their businesses successfully and sustainably, and to help their customers travel with confidence. 

The ABTA brand stands for support, protection and expertise. This means consumers have confidence in ABTA and a strong trust in ABTA Members. These qualities are core to us as they ensure that holidaymakers remain confident in the holiday products that they buy from our Members. 

We help our Members and their customers navigate through today's changing travel landscape by raising standards in the industry; offering schemes of financial protection; providing an independent complaints resolution service should something go wrong; giving guidance on issues from sustainability to health and safety and by presenting a united voice to government to ensure the industry and the public get a fair deal.

ABTA has more than 4,300 travel brands in Membership, providing a wide range of leisure and business travel services, with a combined annual UK turnover of £39 billion. For more details about what we do, what being an ABTA Member means and how we help the British public travel with confidence visit www.abta.com.