The Civil Avition Authority (CAA) has described its confirmation that Atol holders can continue to issue refund credit notes (RCNs) with Atol protection, but only up to December 31, as “appropriate”.
Confirmation of the extension of protection came on October 23, weeks after the previous confirmed protection date of September 30.
CAA consumer director Paul Smith told Travel Weekly: “We considered it appropriate to offer short-term Atol protection to refund credit notes.
“Considering Atol protection for refund credit notes ends on September 30, 2021, we feel the decision to extend this until the end of December is appropriate.”
The government confirmed Atol-protection of RCNs in mid-July only after months of delay.
At the time, the CAA issued guidance that the credit notes would be accepted “in respect of Atol-protected bookings cancelled between 10 March and 30 September 2020 due solely to the Covid-19 pandemic” and that this “currently will not apply” to RCNs issued after September 30.
The terms for issuing RCNs remain in force and the end date for Atol protection of refund credit notes, September 30, 2021, remains unchanged.