CAA takes ‘exceptional decision’ to extend ATOL renewal deadline
Tour operators have been granted a four-week extension to renew their ATOLs due to the ongoing coronavirus.
The Civil Aviation Authority said it had taken the ‘exceptional decision’ due to the concern within the industry about the spread of the disease.
It took a similar decision to extend the ATOL renewals deadline after Thomas Cook collapsed last year to allow affected tour operators and the CAA to focus on looking after affected customers.
"In light of the exceptional and unprecedented events due to Covid-19, this decision has been made to allow industry and the UK CAA to use this time to focus on overcoming unprecedented challenges and commit the resources necessary to provide support to consumers," it said.
"The UK CAA is acutely aware that the situation is changing at a fast pace, and so the ability for ATOL holders to meet the information requirements by the licensing deadline in the current environment will be kept under review.
"To this end, the UK CAA will maintain contact with all ATOL holders in April whose licence would have ordinarily expired at the end of March."
Tour operators who are due to renew their ATOLs at the end of the month must submit their applications before March 31 to be granted the extension to April 28, otherwise their ATOL will lapse.
Michael Budge, head of licensing operations for ATOL, said: "Given the exceptional and unprecedented circumstances we recognise that this is the right course of action and the decision has been taken that all ATOL licences expiring on March 31 will now have their licence period extended until April 28.
"This allows ATOL holders to focus on their customers and manage their own financial position. In addition, the UK Civil Aviation Authority has refocussed its resources to manage the issues arising from this complex situation.
"Extra time will enable industry to support customers in a highly challenging period of uncertainty and provide time to assess matters in order 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 highly unusual, and we will keep this under review. We will also keep this decision under review as the situation develops and the potential impact is better understood. We would like to thank the industry for working with us."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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