United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
CAA offers small business ATOLs at half price
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced that it will charge small businesses applying for an ATOL half the amount of a standard ATOL.
The Small Business ATOL (SBA) will cost £690 if obtained before the end of March next year, instead of £1,380 – the cost of a standard ATOL for one year.
Firms selling fewer than 500 holidays a year can apply for the SBA. Those applying are subject to the usual fitness tests and have to provide a bond and personal overtrading guarantees from Directors, but do not have to meet the normal ATOL financial tests which apply to standard ATOLs.
The CAA introduced the SBA following recent changes it made to ATOL Regulations over the issue of “split contracts”, whereby companies sell flights and other travel products under separate contracts. The changes, in place from October 8, mean all operators selling flights and air holidays, even under split contracts, must hold a licence from the CAA.
CAA deputy director of consumer protection, David Moesli said: “When we first outlined the SBA concept we said that the fees for this licence would reflect the reduced administration involved. We can now confirm that the annual fixed fees will be half those of a standard ATOL. In addition, SBAs do not pay any variable passenger fees.
Mr Moesli added that the CAA had already started processing SBA applications and was receiving good feedback from small operators. The price will be reviewed from April 1 2004, at the same time as the standard ATOL price is reviewed.
Related News Stories:
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Storm Lilian travel chaos as bank holiday flights cancelled