Abta is demanding a halt to changes to the Atol scheme other than required by new Package Travel Regulations, in force from July 1, until these “bed in”.
The association responded to consultations by the CAA on ‘Modernising Atol’ and the Department for Transport (DfT) on ‘Updating Atol consumer protection’ last week, urging businesses “be allowed time to implement the changes necessary for compliance before introducing further changes”.
Abta director of legal affairs Simon Bunce said: “We assumed we would get the Package Travel Directive (PTD) sorted out and look at the rest in due course. Some of what the CAA is proposing goes beyond what’s required by the PTD. We were surprised [to hear] it is intended to be in force by July 1. More detail is needed to understand how it would work.”
He told Travel Weekly: “The industry has been waiting a long time for clarity about their obligations from July 1 and is still awaiting the final detail.”
Luke Petherbridge, Abta senior public affairs manager, added: “We urge the CAA to prioritise implementation [of the regulations].”
However, the CAA declined to clarify whether the changes to Atol it proposes will be delayed pending further consultation or pushed through from July.
A CAA spokesperson said: “The consultation is now closed and we will consider carefully the responses. We’ve previously said there will be transitional arrangements put in place for the transfer to the new process.”
Abta warned that a “lack of clarity” in the definition of a travel “organiser” in the new regulations could cause problems “as traders seek ways to avoid their liabilities”.