The Government is proposing enhanced ATOL consumer protection with an industry consultation period announced today.
ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s Licence) is a financial protection scheme for holidaymakers. If an ATOL tour operator fails, the ATOL scheme ensures that customers contracted with the ATOL holder for an air package or a flight, do not lose the money paid over or are not stranded abroad.
The Department of Transport has announced plans to increase consumer protection for families buying holiday packages. These could include bringing holiday sales by airlines into the scheme along with those arranged on an “agent for the consumer” basis.
Also included would be “flight-plus” holidays comprising a flight and other holiday component bought within two successive days.
The consultation period with industry will end on 15 September and if current plans are approved, the new legislation could come into force by May 2013.
The Government claims it will bring an extra six million holidays under the revised scheme. Read the full document.
(Written by John Barrington-Carver)
(Image: Horia Varlan)
