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BRITISH Airways has dropped plans to surcharge operators using its flights in their packages because different brochure printing times complicated the levy’s introduction.

The airline has abandoned surcharges for operators until next November in a move BA billed as a ‘gesture of goodwill’ to relieve travel companies of the burden of higher insurance and security costs following September 11.

A BA spokeswoman said: “It used to be that all brochures were printed and released around the same time but that’s not the case anymore. Operators who had already printed their brochures talked to us about how to include the surcharge, but in the end we decided it was easier to apply it from next year.”

Although BA said security and insurance costs may come down - cancelling or lowering the current £2.50 per sector surcharge - operators preparing brochures for travel from November 1 2002 will have to cost in the current charge for BA-inclusive packages.

Meanwhile, ABTA’s board is to issue guidance to members over supplements for higher security and insurance costs. It will advise tour operator members about ways to pass on those costs to customers within the current law, and ask agents to be upfront with consumers about extra charges.