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Law and regulation experts have questioned the need for Atol reform, arguing that circumstances have changed in the last four years.
The Civil Aviation Authority has yet to launch a second consultation on reform following the initial process in 2021 and a ‘Request for Further Information’ in January 2023.
But speakers at Travel Weekly’s Future of Travel Conference claimed most businesses were already following the steps previously mooted by the CAA, including segregation of client money via escrow accounts or trust accounts.
Travel Trade Consultancy director Martin Alcock said: “A lot of the reasons why it [reform] was put forward in 2021 have gone.”
Travel Weekly approached the CAA for comment and for an update on the Atol reform process, but the authority declined.
During the conference, lawyer Joanna Kolatsis, director at Themis Advisory, said companies were “already doing what they [the CAA] talked about in the consultation”.
She added that 90% of her clients were using escrow or trust accounts.
Outlining his view that Atol reform was no longer required, Alcock said: “There were two main tenets [of the Atol reform proposals] – one was segregation of client monies, and the other was making APC [Atol Protection Contribution] risk-based.
“The latest Air Travel Trust accounts are showing there is loads of money in there and balance sheets [of travel companies] are all very strong and the CAA already has the tools for where they’re not strong, so it feels like the burning platform has long gone.”
Chris Photi, head of travel and leisure at White Hart Associates, said the need for reform had “dissipated”, adding the industry was now “in good shape financially”.
“We’ve had three very good years back to back, so balance sheets have got into better shape. A lot of the Covid debt is being repaid,” he said.
Alcock added: “I can’t remember a time when the balance sheet strength of the industry has been better as a whole.
“The top five to 10 Atol holders are all looking very strong and the Air Travel Trust fund probably has £300 million in it. We might look back and say, ‘This is the high-water mark – this is the best it has ever been’.”
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