This advise is specifically
intended for travel
professionals, but clearly
provides travellers with
a guideline for discussion
with their travel agent
or tour operator.
The EU airline blacklist and ICAO audit results have consequences in the travel industry; we address these below. This advice is the result of discussion between the Zambian air authorities, the Zambian government, Zambian airlines, UK tour operators and UK insurance companies.
The EU blacklist does not affect any tour operators directly, as no Zambian carriers fly directly to the EU. However, the EU advice was followed by travel advice on the FCO website which (currently on 7 Dec 09) states:
"With effect from 15 July 2009, all Zambian airlines have been refused permission to operate services to the EU. This decision, by the EU Air Safety Committee, followed an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) audit of Zambia, which discovered significant shortcomings in the ability of the Zambian civil aviation authorities to ensure the safe operation of airlines licensed by them. It is recommended that you avoid flying with any airline from Zambia if an acceptable alternative means of travel exists."
Within Zambia, for most of the main destinations that most operators cover - the Luangwa, the Lower Zambezi and the Kafue - have no easy and acceptable alternative means of travel.
We have consulted with Vantage Insurance, the UK's largest provider of Tour Operator's liability insurance and they have commented as follows. We would advise operators to also check with your own insurance company, in case they have slightly different requirements. Vantage have advised us that best practice in these circumstances would require that all Tour Operators:
- Draw each of our traveller's attention to the FCO advice on flights in Zambia, and ensure that we have 'sign off' from the clients that they have seen it.
- Satisfy ourselves that any airlines that we use have adequate public liability insurance, underwritten by an appropriate insurance carrier, to cover the costs of any incident.
For more details, click here.
