Number of ATOL-protected operator failures almost doubles
The Air Travel Trust spent £14.7 million refunding and repatriating more than 16,500 holidaymakers in the last financial year.
Between April 2016 and March 2017, 19 ATOL holders ceased trading, up from just 10 the previous year.
The largest failure in the last financial year was All Leisure Holidays.
The Air Travel Trust flew home 282 ATOL-protected passengers who were abroad when their travel company collapsed, and refunded 16,608 holidaymakers last year.
The latest figures are revealed today in the Air Travel Trust annual report and accounts for 2016/17.
The report highlights that the number of ATOL-protected bookings was marginally down, following five years of steady growth, with 24.9 million holidaymakers protected by the ATOL scheme last year, down from 25.2 million the year before.
At the end of March, the ATT fund had a surplus of £145 million, up from £139 million the previous year. It is the fifth consecutive year the fund has shown a surplus.
ATT chair Michael Medlicott said: "In the last 12 months the UK travel industry has faced a number of challenges, including unfavourable currency exchange movements, limited economic growth and a reduction in consumer confidence.
"Furthermore there are a number of on-going geo-political situations, which are having a significant impact on key destinations and these continue to present concerns for holidaymakers.
"In the light of all these factors, the travel market has held up very well, which reflects the high priority consumers attach to their holidays.
"I am also pleased that consumers continue to have trust and confidence in the ATOL brand."
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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