The president of the Portuguese Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (APAVT), Pedro Costa Ferreira, called for the State Budget for 2026 (OE2026) to establish a protection fund safeguarding consumers and agencies in the event of airline bankruptcies. This mechanism aims to ensure the reimbursement of unused tickets and secure the repatriation of passengers, thereby enhancing confidence in the sector and promoting greater safety for all travelers.
The fund would be financed by mandatory contributions from airlines operating in Portugal and managed by a public entity. Its legal framework should include simplified claim processes, maximum compensation limits per passenger, and the right of subrogation in claims against insolvent companies.
The association leader emphasized that this initiative is a crucial step towards aligning the country with the best European practices by protecting consumers and strengthening the resilience of national tourism.
This proposal follows the announcement that Icelandic airline Fly Play ceased operations on Monday, immediately canceling all flights, as stated in a website announcement, leaving many passengers stranded.
The APAVT president also highlighted the need for infrastructure and accessibility to support tourism growth.
“The growth of tourism in Portugal continues to be limited by structural issues,” warned Pedro Costa Ferreira, noting that without an airport solution in Lisbon, Portugal risks losing competitiveness against Mediterranean destinations.
Therefore, he argued, OE2026 should commit to clear transportation, airport, rail, and internal mobility goals to sustain growth, diversify markets, and enhance the destination’s appeal.
Lastly, the APAVT president pointed to the modernization and competitiveness of the travel agency sector.
Pedro Costa Ferreira assured that travel agencies serve as a gateway for millions of tourists and Portuguese families, noting that the sector is undergoing significant technological transformation.
Thus, he stressed, OE2026 should support digitization, technological capacity building, and new financial instruments to ensure Portuguese companies can compete fairly in a global market.
“APAVT, in alignment with the proposals of the Portuguese Tourism Confederation (CTP), believes OE2026 should be a decisive tool to ensure the competitiveness of Portuguese tourism in an increasingly demanding international context,” he noted.
For the association leader, “this is not about requesting direct financial support but rather promoting structural, regulatory, and public investment measures” that contribute to “the modernization of companies” and secure fair competition rules while ensuring better accessibility for sector growth, he explained.
