CAA to restrict use of ATOL logo=20
Date: 04 June 2008=20
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The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced today that it is
restricting=
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the use of the =E2=80=98ATOL protected=E2=80=99 logo to ATOL holders only.
The restriction means that only ATOL holders will be permitted to use the=
=20
logo in brochures, online or in shop windows. The decision follows
concerns=
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that unlicensed travel firms using the logo when advertising could=20
potentially mislead consumers into believing that travel arrangements are=
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ATOL protected when this may not be the case.
Each ATOL holder will be provided with a licence to use the trademarked=20
=E2=80=98ATOL protected=E2=80=99 logo as part of their ATOL licence, for
us=
e when offering=20
ATOL protected travel arrangements. Unlicensed firms will not be allowed
to=
=20
use the logo.=20
The CAA expects firms to take notice of the new rules and will take
action=
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should it discover companies to be breaching regulations.
David Moesli, CAA Deputy Director of Consumer Protection, said: "Many
ATOL=
=20
holders already recognise the benefits of prominently displaying the ATOL=
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logo in their marketing material. Restricting its use will help to ensure=
=20
that the logo is not devalued by travel firms without licences.
=E2=80=9CThis, in turn, will boost consumer confidence when booking with
an=
ATOL=20
holder, particulary in today=E2=80=99s marketplace where holidaymakers can
=
now=20
purchase other holiday products that are not financially protected. This
of=
=20
course was not the case years ago when practically all holiday
arrangements=
=20
were covered under the ATOL scheme.=E2=80=9D
Following the introduction of the ATOL Protection Contribution (APC)
and=20
new licence conditions earlier this year, the CAA has now published=20
guidance for unlicensed travel firms on the information they must provide=
=20
to prospective customers when acting as agents for ATOL holders, as well
as=
=20
on the information that must be included in agents=E2=80=99 receipts.
For more information please contact the CAA press office on 0207 453 6030.
Notes to Editors:
Full details of the new policy can be found on the ATOL website at=20
www.atol.org.uk.=20
ATOL (short for Air Travel Organisers=E2=80=99 Licensing) is managed by
the=
CAA and=20
gives comprehensive protection from losing money or being stranded abroad=
=20
to over 26 million people in the UK who buy air holidays and flights from=
=20
travel organisers each year. It is by far the largest travel protection=20
scheme in the UK, and the only one for flights and air holidays sold by=20
tour operators.
All tour operators selling air holiday packages, charter flights and=20
certain scheduled flights must hold a licence from the CAA. If a
licence=20
holder fails, the CAA ensures its customers are either repatriated to the=
=20
UK or receive a refund of payments made.
Repatriation costs and refunds are met by the Air Travel Trust Fund,
which=
=20
is funded by a =C2=A31 per traveller contribution, called the ATOL
Protecti=
on=20
Contribution (APC), which every ATOL holder is required to make when it=20
accepts a booking under its licence. In some cases an ATOL holder will
also=
=20
have provided a bond, which will be used in the first instance to protect=
=20
customers.
In the year to March 2008, ATOL enabled over 2,000 customers of failed=20
travel organisers to complete their holidays and return to the UK and=20
21,000 received a refund of advance payments.
Further information about ATOL is available on the ATOL website at=20
www.atol.org.uk.=20
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