ATOL announces extension of protection for refund credit notes

• Travel industry able to issue ATOL protected refund credit notes until 31 December 2020
• Refund credit notes must be issued for an ATOL protected booking cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic
• After 30 September 2021 ATOL protection will not apply to refund credit notes, so consumers holding valid refund credit notes should redeem them for a new booking or a refund by this date.

In July, the ATOL scheme announced that consumers who accepted refund credit notes for cancelled ATOL protected holidays would be covered by the ATOL scheme. Originally, this protection applied to refund credit notes issued between 10 March 2020 and 30 September 2020.

However, the scheme is today able to announce that ATOL protection for refund credit notes has been extended to cover any issued between 1 October and 31 December 2020.

Paul Smith, Consumer Director at the UK Civil Aviation Authority said  “In light of the continued impact of the coronavirus pandemic on travel, the decision to extend ATOL protection for refund credit notes will strengthen consumer confidence and allow for ATOL holders to continue to offer them in good faith to their customers.

“While consumers may choose to accept a refund credit note if one is offered, they are entitled to a cash refund and must be offered this at the same time.”

Further details of the conditions for refund credit notes can be found on our website here: Refund Credit Notes.

For media enquiries contact Jake Woodley or Andrew McConnell at the ATOL Press Office on 00 44 (0)207 453 6030 or [email protected].

You can also follow the ATOL on Twitter @atolprotected