Air Transport Licences (ATLs) provide a parallel system of licensing for air carriers based in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. Such companies need to hold an ATL instead of an Operating Licence.

They cannot hold Operating Licences as the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are not part of the European Economic Area (EEA). Holders of ATLs must be controlled by UK nationals.

An Air Transport Licence by itself is not enough to commence commercial air operations. An Air Operator Certificate is also required.

We recommend you contact the CAA directly if you would like to apply for an Air Transport Licence.

Full details of requirements to qualify for an Air Transport Licence are available in the publication Official Record Series 1 – Licensing UK Airlines.

However, if you are based in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, we recommend you get in touch with the CAA directly to discuss your application.

Holders of Air Transport Licences must be controlled by UK nationals

Unlike Operating Licences (which can be held by nationals of any EEA country), Air Transport Licence holders must be UK nationals.

Statutory publication of applications and objections procedure

There are statutory procedures for the processing of Air Transport Licence applications, set out in The Civil Aviation Authority Regulations 1991. These allow for the publication of an application and give an opportunity for objections to be made by licence holders or other interested parties.

In normal circumstances the CAA will publish an application in its weekly Licensing Notices as soon as possible after receipt, allowing 21 days for objections to be made.

If a valid objection is made, the matter has to be decided at a public hearing at which the applicant and objector are present.

The CAA will reach a decision after the hearing and publish a written decision. Decisions made at previous hearings are available online on the decisions page on this website.

Although it aims to deliver decisions as quickly as possible, if a public hearing is required the process will normally take at least two months after the end of the objection period.

Unopposed applications can be dealt with very quickly after the end of the objection period.