The Chief Executive of the Irish Travel Agents Association has called on the Government and Department of Foreign Affairs to issue an official instruction to people not to undertake non-essential travel.
That way, Pat Dawson said, consumers will be entitled to refunds from airlines which are due to resume operations in July. Otherwise, he said, consumers will not be entitled to any refund, if they abide by the current advice to avoid non-essential travel.
He said the Government was advised of the problem months ago, and it is not in the gift of travel agents to resolve the issue.
Mr Dawson said the outlook for the travel agency sector is very bleak, and it will need subsidies and help for at least the next nine months in order to get back