Millions Of Extra Holidays Protected

People booking a holiday abroad are set to benefit from a clearer more extensive protection scheme after the Government confirmed it would press ahead with reforms to Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (ATOL).

The reforms, made necessary by changes in the holiday market, will see the ATOL scheme undergo the biggest overhaul for more than a decade. The changes are expected to ensure around 6 million more holidays receive protection.

In a statement to Parliament, the Aviation Minister Theresa Villiers outlined a series of changes to ATOL which the Government aims to implement by the end of the year. Subject to a Spring consultation on the details, the reforms will extend protection to include 'flight plus' holidays. This would cover trips including a flight where the various elements are purchased within a specified short period - essentially looking like a package holiday but falling outside the existing legal definition.

The move will also deter businesses from misleading consumers about their level of protection. Some companies offer holidays which might look like packages but make the transaction as an “agent for the customer” without explaining to the customer that this means forfeiting ATOL protection. These proposals are designed to provide customers with a clear and honest explanation so they can make informed decisions.

The scheme will replace the wide variety of documents which companies currently issue with standardised information for travellers, making it clear when their trip is ATOL protected. Work on this is already underway, with the Civil Aviation Authority and the travel industry developing an easily recognisable certificate for protected holidays.

The reforms will be achieved through new regulations, existing legislation and making greater use of unfair trading rules.

In addition to ensuring the ATOL scheme is better suited to the modern holiday market, the proposals will also help to reduce the deficit in the fund which covers refunds and repatriation in the event of insolvency. Following a number of high-profile collapses in recent years, the Air Travel Trust Fund (ATTF) relies on a Government guarantee, currently worth £42m, and Ministers see the reduction of this as very important.

Theresa Villiers said: "As well as improving protection for passengers, these reforms will help us put ATTF finances back on track so that taxpayers' exposure to the fund’s deficit is rapidly reduced and ultimately eliminated.

"I also believe there may be a case for new primary legislation to address other issues in the ATOL scheme and I will be considering this further in the course of the year."


(BMcN/GK)