ABTA has confirmed that expert evidence it provided during a roundtable session for the UK COVID-19 Inquiry features prominently in a newly published report examining the impact of pandemic-era measures.
The roundtable formed part of ABTA’s wider engagement with the inquiry, aimed at ensuring the travel sector’s experience during the pandemic was formally recorded and considered in future policy development.
According to ABTA, the travel industry was uniquely exposed when international travel shut down in 2020, with businesses effectively unable to generate revenue for prolonged periods.
Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive of ABTA, said: “The travel industry felt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic like no other sector.
“When travel shut down, unlike most other businesses, travel companies couldn’t pivot, no international travel meant no revenue. We know some of our members are still feeling the effects, particularly the pressure of loan repayments.”
ABTA acknowledged that protecting public health was the overriding priority at the time but argued that restrictions were often introduced without sufficient understanding of how the travel sector operates, particularly the diversity of business models within it.
In its submission to the inquiry, ABTA also highlighted shortcomings in financial support mechanisms.
The association said many travel businesses were unable to fully utilise the furlough scheme because staff were required to manage cancellations and process refunds at scale. It also noted that retail travel agents were only included in grant support schemes after industry lobbying.
Other parts of the sector, including coach and tour operators, were not offered dedicated national support packages despite being effectively closed by travel restrictions.
Tanzer added that while the traffic light system was designed to restart international travel, its frequent changes created operational challenges and undermined consumer confidence.
The report also acknowledges the role of Refund Credit Notes, an initiative led by ABTA and backed by the Civil Aviation Authority and the UK Government.
The mechanism allowed travel companies to defer cash refunds while protecting consumer funds, providing breathing space for businesses facing acute liquidity pressures.
Tanzer said the recognition of Refund Credit Notes in the inquiry’s findings was encouraging, noting that the measure “helped to save many travel businesses, as well as providing confidence for consumers that they wouldn’t lose out financially”.
For the business travel sector, the inquiry’s latest report reinforces the long-tail financial impact of pandemic restrictions, with some operators still managing debt accumulated during periods of zero revenue.
ABTA said that if a similar crisis were to occur in future, policymakers should ensure that measures to protect public health are accompanied by tailored, sector-specific support that reflects operational realities.
As the industry continues its recovery, the inclusion of travel sector evidence in the inquiry’s official record marks a significant step in shaping how future government responses balance public health priorities with business sustainability.