CAA delays ATOL renewal process due to Thomas Cook failure
The Civil Aviation Authority has made the ‘unprecedented’ decision to postpone the deadline for ATOL renewals in light of Thomas Cook’s collapse.
Instead of September 30, ATOL companies which have not yet had their licences renewed will have until October 25 to gain approval.
But companies still have to make their application for a licence renewal by the original deadline of September 30, otherwise their ATOL will lapse.
Head of licensing operations for ATOL Michael Budge said: "Given the exceptional circumstances and redistribution of our internal resources at the CAA to support the repatriation effort, we have taken the exceptional decision that all licences that have yet to be granted will now have the licence period extended until October 25, 2019 to be approved.
"Extra time will enable industry to have additional time to support customers in a difficult period and give them the space and time to get things together to meet the terms of their renewals. It will also give the UK Civil Aviation Authority the time to appropriately assess applications where we need to complete assessments.
"Extending the deadline is possible within our regulations but it is unprecedented and reflects the exceptional circumstances that we find ourselves in. We would like to thank the industry for working with us and ask them to bear with us."
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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