HolidayTravelWatch Launches its ’Whistleblow for Safety’ Campaign & Urges Aerotoxic Victims to Report Fume Events or Smoke Events on Board Aircraft

HolidayTravelWatch has launched a campaign to ’Whistleblow for Safety’.

The campaign is designed to encourage a risk aware attitude toward the use of transport, either by the Travel Consumer or indeed those that operate those transport systems.

HolidayTravelWatch has created a bank of free complaint letters, covering aircraft, ships, trains and road transport, inviting those affected by poor safety standards, to ’Whistleblow for Safety’.

HolidayTravelWatch hears regularly of incidents on such transport, which gives us cause for concern on the safety of the Travel Consumer, or for that matter, on how employees safety is treated.

We heard of one incident relating to an aircraft, that suffered the accidental opening of the safety chute before take off. Passengers were taken off the aircraft, a number of people were ’denied boarding’, the remainder then took off to their destination with the front cabin door in question being placed out of order!

Another incident related to a coach journey to London, driven in pouring rain, along the motorway, without its windscreen wipers working. As the coach was being driven, the driver would periodically reach out, and clean the window in front of him!

However, of growing concern is the rise of reports since June 2007 of the condition known as Aerotoxic Syndrome. Holidaymakers are reporting that they experience a fume event or smoke event on board their aircraft. The debilitating effects of exposure to these fumes is reported to lead to serious illness, and day to day neurological deficits. It is alleged that these illnesses stem from the oil vapours that enter into the aircrafts ’bleed air supply’ system. There is much debate, with strong opposing views. HolidayTravelWatch considers that this is the most serious threat to aircraft, crew and passenger safety, which appears to attract a surprising laissez-faire attitude in confronting this important issue.

Frank Brehany, the MD of HolidayTravelWatch states:

“We are concerned that we have, and continue to receive reports of safety deficits on board holiday or tourist transport. We are very concerned about the growth of Aerotoxic complaints from holidaymakers. It is time that the consumer took charge of their own safety, by reporting these deficits, and forcing the authorities to take a more robust and open approach toward safety audits. We encourage Travel Consumers to use our free letters, and to advise us of any safety incident arising from their travel experience; we only ask that you keep us informed of the responses and progress you make. The information we receive will be collated and presented, and at the appropriate time reported to the relevant Safety or Parliamentary authorities”.

All holidaymakers affected by any of these issues should call the National Helpline 08450179229 or make Contact through the Organisation’s website - www.holidaytravelwatch.com

HolidayTravelWatch is a National Consumer Organisation which provides Information, Advice and Assistance to the Holidaymaker or Independent Traveller, who experience problems with their travel arrangements. In 12 years, 145,000 people have benefitted from the help provided by HolidayTravelWatch, with over 46% being empowered to resolve their own claims through the information the Organisation provides on their Consumer Rights. HolidayTravelWatch has campaigned in the past for improvements in travel safety and is proud to have been associated with some of the leading broadcast and print media projects aimed at informing the Consumer.

HolidayTravelWatch continues with that campaigning spirit, and continues to work closely with the media and government departments alike.

Full details of the work of HolidayTravelWatch can be found on www.holidaytravelwatch.com

For further information on this press release and any other associated matters contact Frank Brehany on 08450179229 or through the website of HolidayTravelWatch.

Contact Information

Frank Brehany

Senior Consumer Advocate

HolidayTravelWatch

Contact via E-mail