Latest news with #AirTravelOrganiser'sLicence
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Brits face cancelled holidays as holiday company loses license
Hundreds of British travellers may have their summer holidays cancelled after a UK travel provider lost a key license on Friday. As of 13 June, operations by Great Little Escapes are no longer protected by an Air Travel Organiser's Licence (Atol). The company's Facebook page says the brand formerly offered 'holidays to the most iconic cities in the world'. A notice from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed that the company based in Sandhurst, Berkshire, ceased trading as an Atol holder on 13 June 2025. The Air Travel Organisers' Licence is a financial protection scheme run by the CAA for package holidays sold by tour operators in the UK. Under the scheme, if a firm goes out of business, your booking will be refunded. According to Companies House, the travel provider has been operational since September 2002. Great Little Escapes also traded under the names Your Holidays, Great Little Escapes, Tunisia First and websites and said the CAA. It added: 'We are currently collating information from the company and will update this page as soon as possible.' Customers of Great Little Escapes are advised not to submit a claim before the CAA has finished gathering information. The closure comes just two months after operations by Balkan Holidays shut in the UK, with 'all forward holiday bookings' cancelled after almost 60 years of trading. The travel provider started operations in 1966 with summer holidays to Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Malta and northern Cyprus, as well as winter ski trips, on offer to travellers. In March, Jetline Holidays ceased trading as an Atol holder, raising doubts on whether trip bookings – specifically cruises –would still be valid. Princess, Cunard and Holland America were among the affected cruise holidays, most of which were cancelled due to a 'breach of contract' with the former travel operator. The Carnival brand cruise lines said in a statement: 'We recognise how disappointing this news will be for affected guests and express our sincere apologies for the disruption caused. This decision was not made lightly.'
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Travellers in limbo after British holiday firm loses licence
The company, based in Berkshire, stopped trading as an Air Travel Organiser's Licence (ATOL) holder on June 13. The Civil Aviation Authority said: "The company based in Sandhurst, Berkshire traded under the names Your Holidays, Great Little Escapes, Tunisia First and websites and "We are currently collating information from the company and will update this page as soon as possible. "Whilst waiting for further information, please do not submit a claim as these will be rejected." It added: "If you are a travel agent of Great Little Escapes LLP and you are currently holding consumer payments which you have not yet paid to Great Little Escapes LLP, you must not use these funds to refund consumers until you have received instructions from the Air Travel Trust. "Travel agents will be individually contacted by the CAA with specific instructions for these bookings." The Civil Aviation Authority has the power to prosecute under section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006. The maximum sentence for this offence is 10 years' imprisonment. What do I do if my holiday company goes bust? Check that you have ATOL protection. If the travel provider was an ATOL holder, you may be ATOL protected if you purchased a flight and have not received tickets and have been given an ATOL Certificate. This was introduced in 1973, as the popularity of overseas trips grew. The scheme is run by us at the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). When you purchase an ATOL protected trip which includes a flight, you should be given an ATOL Certificate. Recommended reading: If your travel company becomes a failed ATOL holder when you are abroad, they help you to continue your trip by: Assisting you to stay in your holiday accommodation, if possible. Reimbursing you for any money you may have spent to replace ATOL protected parts of your trip, e.g. accommodation, car hire, transfers. Arranging flights home, depending on the circumstance. It is important to check that the travel company you are looking to book with holds an ATOL.
North Wales Chronicle
a day ago
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Travellers in limbo after British holiday firm loses licence
The company, based in Berkshire, stopped trading as an Air Travel Organiser's Licence (ATOL) holder on June 13. The Civil Aviation Authority said: "The company based in Sandhurst, Berkshire traded under the names Your Holidays, Great Little Escapes, Tunisia First and websites and "We are currently collating information from the company and will update this page as soon as possible. "Whilst waiting for further information, please do not submit a claim as these will be rejected." It added: "If you are a travel agent of Great Little Escapes LLP and you are currently holding consumer payments which you have not yet paid to Great Little Escapes LLP, you must not use these funds to refund consumers until you have received instructions from the Air Travel Trust. "Travel agents will be individually contacted by the CAA with specific instructions for these bookings." The Civil Aviation Authority has the power to prosecute under section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006. The maximum sentence for this offence is 10 years' imprisonment. Check that you have ATOL protection. If the travel provider was an ATOL holder, you may be ATOL protected if you purchased a flight and have not received tickets and have been given an ATOL Certificate. This was introduced in 1973, as the popularity of overseas trips grew. The scheme is run by us at the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). When you purchase an ATOL protected trip which includes a flight, you should be given an ATOL Certificate. Recommended reading: If your travel company becomes a failed ATOL holder when you are abroad, they help you to continue your trip by: It is important to check that the travel company you are looking to book with holds an ATOL.
South Wales Guardian
a day ago
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Travellers in limbo after British holiday firm loses licence
The company, based in Berkshire, stopped trading as an Air Travel Organiser's Licence (ATOL) holder on June 13. The Civil Aviation Authority said: "The company based in Sandhurst, Berkshire traded under the names Your Holidays, Great Little Escapes, Tunisia First and websites and "We are currently collating information from the company and will update this page as soon as possible. "Whilst waiting for further information, please do not submit a claim as these will be rejected." It added: "If you are a travel agent of Great Little Escapes LLP and you are currently holding consumer payments which you have not yet paid to Great Little Escapes LLP, you must not use these funds to refund consumers until you have received instructions from the Air Travel Trust. "Travel agents will be individually contacted by the CAA with specific instructions for these bookings." The Civil Aviation Authority has the power to prosecute under section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006. The maximum sentence for this offence is 10 years' imprisonment. Check that you have ATOL protection. If the travel provider was an ATOL holder, you may be ATOL protected if you purchased a flight and have not received tickets and have been given an ATOL Certificate. This was introduced in 1973, as the popularity of overseas trips grew. The scheme is run by us at the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). When you purchase an ATOL protected trip which includes a flight, you should be given an ATOL Certificate. Recommended reading: If your travel company becomes a failed ATOL holder when you are abroad, they help you to continue your trip by: It is important to check that the travel company you are looking to book with holds an ATOL.
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Travellers in limbo after British holiday firm loses licence
The company, based in Berkshire, stopped trading as an Air Travel Organiser's Licence (ATOL) holder on June 13. The Civil Aviation Authority said: "The company based in Sandhurst, Berkshire traded under the names Your Holidays, Great Little Escapes, Tunisia First and websites and "We are currently collating information from the company and will update this page as soon as possible. "Whilst waiting for further information, please do not submit a claim as these will be rejected." It added: "If you are a travel agent of Great Little Escapes LLP and you are currently holding consumer payments which you have not yet paid to Great Little Escapes LLP, you must not use these funds to refund consumers until you have received instructions from the Air Travel Trust. "Travel agents will be individually contacted by the CAA with specific instructions for these bookings." The Civil Aviation Authority has the power to prosecute under section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006. The maximum sentence for this offence is 10 years' imprisonment. What do I do if my holiday company goes bust? Check that you have ATOL protection. If the travel provider was an ATOL holder, you may be ATOL protected if you purchased a flight and have not received tickets and have been given an ATOL Certificate. This was introduced in 1973, as the popularity of overseas trips grew. The scheme is run by us at the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). When you purchase an ATOL protected trip which includes a flight, you should be given an ATOL Certificate. Recommended reading: If your travel company becomes a failed ATOL holder when you are abroad, they help you to continue your trip by: Assisting you to stay in your holiday accommodation, if possible. Reimbursing you for any money you may have spent to replace ATOL protected parts of your trip, e.g. accommodation, car hire, transfers. Arranging flights home, depending on the circumstance. It is important to check that the travel company you are looking to book with holds an ATOL.
