ATOL Reform

The Department for Transport (DfT) and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have published the key documents outlining the next steps for reforms to the ATOL (Air Transport Operators Licence) financial protection scheme.  AERBT emphasises that travellers wishing to purchase a package holiday should only book trips that are ATOL protected and therefore indemnified.  For separate scheduled air travel it is suggested that insurance cover be arranged.  A 12-month or bank-backed arrangement is probably best as it should cover most eventualities without having to think every time you travel.

Key among the changes is that any travel business wishing to sell Flight-Plus holidays from 1 June 2012 will need to have appropriate ATOL arrangements in place.  This is intended to broaden the scope of financial protection beyond traditional package holidays.  If you hire a car, or book a theme park or some other add-on as part of the holiday, this should be included under the ATOL approved package.  Domestic flights do not form part of Flight-Plus, or tours abroad of less than 24 hours, which often takes in football trips. www.abta.com/atolreform www.caa.co.uk

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