A CLAMPDOWN on false holiday sickness claims is being welcomed by Jet 2.

The airline has thanked Leeds North West MP Alex Sobel after a successful campaign for changes in legislation over passenger sickness fraud.

A report from The Association of British Travel Agents revealed a 500 per cent rise in holiday sickness claims made between 2013 and 2016, costing the industry £240m in that final year.

Now the Civil Procedure Rule Committee has brought package holiday claims under the same rules as personal injury claims.

Mr Sobel said: "Rising legal costs have led to a reluctance by tour operators to challenge cases which has led to predatory claims management companies seeking out ways to extract compensation from false holiday sickness. Not only does this risk rising costs for going on holiday but it tarnishes the reputation of UK holidaymakers abroad.

"I am pleased that we have made progress in parliament to ensure that legislative action is taken to protect us from fraudulent claims. This action will not affect those who are genuinely ill on holiday—this action is in place to protect them. "

After a meeting with local airline Jet2 last year, Mr Sobel committed to lobby the government for changes to the law.

In a subsequent letter to the MP the airline said: "Following the Ministry of Justice’s announcement last week on fixed costs relating to holiday sickness scams, I wanted to thank you for your support throughout our campaign. The Ministry has closed the loophole in the law making it harder for fraudsters to dupe British holidaymakers into lodging false claims. We are pleased to see that the Government is taking firm action on combating fraudulent claims, and has acted in advance of the summer holiday season."