It’s been a busy few days in travel with two major global incidents. With thousands impacted by the Heathrow fire closure and flight cancellations due to the ash cloud in Indonesia, travel advisors and businesses have shown up to assist affected Aussie travellers.
More than 600,000 Australians visit the UK each year and many thousands more use Heathrow as a crucial hub for transatlantic and European travel.
The Heathrow fire and power outage caused significant chaos, disrupting flights worldwide and leaving Australian travellers stranded.
The ripple effect on travel plans is substantial, compounded by ongoing cancellations and delays due to volcanic activity in Indonesia.
When travel plans fall apart, the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) said accredited travel agents are the difference between a quick resolution and being stuck in limbo.
They’re solving problems on the fly, rebooking flights, securing alternative routes and getting stranded travellers home.
Travel advisors can negotiate with airlines and suppliers on behalf of their clients and provide timely advice to ensure travellers are supported and informed at every stage of their journey.
ATIA CEO Dean Long urged Aussies to always book with an ATIA-accredited travel business to ensure they have the support they need when global events impact their plans.
“The scale of disruption caused by Heathrow’s shutdown and the Indonesian ash cloud demonstrates just how critical Australia’s travel agents and businesses are when things go wrong,” he said.
“Every day, ATIA-accredited travel businesses are working behind the scenes to rescue stranded travellers, reroute itineraries and provide trusted advice in real time.
“When the unexpected happens, choosing an ATIA-accredited travel business means having the support you need to get back on track because without a travel agent, you really are on your own.”
Find out more at atia.travel
