UK Civil Aviation Authority to extend ATOL renewal

Saturday, March 21, 2020

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) recently decided to extend the accreditation of all Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (ATOL) holders’ paperwork. The ATOL holders applied to renew their paperwork and the renewal was scheduled for the forthcoming month. In a recent announcement, UK CAA extended the date of renewal from April 1^st 2020 to April 28^th 2020.

The decision to extend the date for license renewals has been undertaken in light of the deadly coronavirus outbreak and all the unprecedented events that took place due to the COVID-19 spread. This move allows the UK CAA as well as the industry to use their time to concentrate on overcoming the extraordinary challenges brought by the pandemic and enable them to commit their necessary resources to provide support to customers.

Michael Budge, Head of Licensing Operations, Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing said in a statement that the organisation understands that the move is the right course of action undertaken in the exceptional and unprecedented circumstances. He mentioned that ATOL recognizes that all licenses expiring on March 31^st 2020 will get an extended licence period until April 28^th 2020. He also said that the action allows ATOL holders to manage their own financial position and focus on their customers.  He further adds that the UK Civil Aviation Authority has refocused its resources in order to manage the issues arising out of the complex situation.

The UK CAA is highly aware of the current situation and all the changes it brings. The organisation will keep under review the ability of the ATOL holders to arrange the required information by the final date in the present environment.

The decision for license extension will come into effect on March 31^st 2020. All applicable ATOL holders will be notified about the extended time period via email from the UK CAA.  Meanwhile, the UK CAA will continue to be in touch with all ATOL holders in April whose license was supposed to expire by the end of March.

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