We use necessary cookies to make our website work. We'd also like to use optional cookies to understand how you use it, and to help us improve it.

For more information, please read our cookie policy.

UK Civil Aviation Regulations

These are published by the CAA on our UK Regulations pages. EU Regulations and EASA Access Guides published by EASA no longer apply in the UK. Our website and publications are being reviewed to update all references. Any references to EU law and EASA Access guides should be disregarded and where applicable the equivalent UK versions referred to instead.



The UK Civil Aviation Authority confirms that of the 742 ATOL licences that expired on 31 March 2021, 554 have been renewed, with a further 89 still in the process. This means that, in total, there are now 1,662 ATOL holders overall.

Michael Budge, Head of ATOL Licensing at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said “We would like to thank those travel companies that submitted their application and supporting information for renewal in good time as well as engaging constructively with us regarding licensing requirements.”

“We have continued to focus on ensuring the appropriate protection of advance customer monies and requiring ATOL holders to maintain adequate liquidity to meet future obligations. Where appropriate, certain conditions were required to meet these obligations.”

Travel businesses that were not due to renew their ATOL licence during this renewals period should apply in good time before the 30 September 2021 expiry date. Therefore, it is important that ATOL holders continue to work closely with the Civil Aviation Authority, so that we can support in the best interest of consumers.

ATOL Licences as of 31 March 2020 ATOL Licences as of 31 March 2021
805 742
Did not apply 2020 Did not apply 2021
55 (7%) 99* (13%)
Granted 2020 Granted 2021
704 (87%) 554 (75%)
Applied but not yet renewed - 1 April 2020 Applied but not yet renewed - 1 April 2021
46 (6%) 89** (12%)

Numbers above: At close of business 1 April 2021

* Includes 23 trade ATOL holders that no longer require to hold an ATOL licence.

** 44 of these submitted applications within the last 10 business days of March 2021.

For media enquiries contact Andrew McConnell at the ATOL Press Office on 0333 103 6000 or press.office@caa.co.uk.

You can also follow ATOL on Twitter @atolprotected.