News

MIDCONSORT Travel Group has secured a potential £20 million group-wide ATOL from the Civil Aviation Authority.

The group confirmed the ATOL was in place at a members’ meeting last week. It means Midconsort members don’t need to fork out for their own mini-ATOLs to advertise and sell self-packaged trips.

Chief executive Charles Eftichiou gave “a ball park” figure for the ATOL of around 5,000 seats and up to £20 million worth of sales.

Fellow consortia Global (Travel Weekly October 6 2003) and Freedom (Travel Weekly April 5 2004) have already got group ATOLs for members.

Eftichiou believes his deal with the CAA is unique as Midconsort’s group ATOL is the first to offer flexibility to independent agents.

Under the deal Midconsort acts as an operator. Its members will tell the consortium how big an ATOL they need and pay a refundable deposit of 5%. The ATOL is expected to be in place by the end of the year.

Eftichiou said the deal could boost members’ turnover by up to £100,000 a year. “Members have said they are losing out on around £100,000 worth of business each because they don’t have an ATOL,” said Eftichiou.

“This allows agents to package without being directly involved themselves.”

Eftichiou revealed Worldchoice’s members, under the Independent Travel Agents Alliance, could also come under Midconsort’s ATOL.

“Preliminary discussions have taken place,” he said. “They could either join our ATOL or launch a scheme of their own that mirrors Midconsort’s.”

Meanwhile, Midconsort is looking at four locations for this year’s conference - a date has yet to be confirmed. Under consideration are Jersey, Dubrovnik, Madeira and Malaga. The decision hinges on securing a flight from Birmingham or Coventry at the right price. Potential carriers include Thomas Cook, GB Airways and Thomsonfly.