ATOL renewals statement: Spring 2022

The UK Civil Aviation Authority confirms that of the 675 ATOL licences that expired on 31 March 2022, 594 have been renewed, with a further 31 still in the process[1]. In total there are now 1,618 ATOL holders, with 1,025 due to renew in September 2022.

With 123 (18%) businesses applying in the fourteen days leading up to the 31 March deadline, the UK Civil Aviation Authority urges travel businesses that are due to renew in September 2022 to apply in good time before the 30 September 2022 deadline because of the time required for the CAA to analyse and process applications, and for applicants to put any required conditions in place. Businesses that fail to allow reasonable time to apply and meet required conditions by the deadline risk being unable to take ATOL protected bookings.

ATOL Licences as of 31 March 2020	ATOL Licences as of 31 March 2021	ATOL Licences as of 31 March 2022
805	742	675
Did not apply 2020	Did not apply 2021	Did not apply 2022
55 (7%)	99* (13%)	50 (7%)
Granted 2020	Granted 2021	Granted 2022
704 (87%)	554 (75%)	594 (88%)
Applied but not yet renewed – 1 April 2020	Applied but not yet renewed – 1 April 2021	Applied but not yet renewed – 1 April 2022
46 (6%)	89 (12%)	31**(5%)

Numbers above: As at 1 April

* Includes 23 trade ATOL holders that no longer require to hold an ATOL licence.

** Includes 18 applications received in last 14 days of March

Michael Budge, Head of ATOL Licensing at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said:

“We would like to thank those travel companies that submitted their applications and supporting information for renewal in good time and working with us throughout the process. The Civil Aviation Authority has continued to apply the current ATOL framework when processing these latest renewals.

“In the interest of protecting consumers, it is right for us to continuously engage and closely monitor ATOL holders to help keep customers financially safe when travelling.”

Notes to editor

Travel companies with ATOLs must renew their licences each year, either in September or March.

The top 10 ATOL holders report is available at https://www.caa.co.uk/atol-protection/check-an-atol/atol-reports

[1] As at 1 April 2022