Travel Republic has been granted a Flight-Plus Atol licence by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The CAA’s website confirms the online agent is licensed to carry 126,722 Flight-Plus passengers in the June Atol period and 208,323 in the September period.
Chris Roche, commercial director of Travel Republic, confirmed the company had been granted a licence but declined to comment further at this stage.
Chris Photi, senior partner at travel industry accountant, White Hart Associates, said: “Travel Republic applying for and being granted an ATOL reflects well on both the company and the CAA.
“The old court case has been set aside and both parties have clearly worked together to obtain a consumer protection solution without either party showing past prejudices to the other.
“This reflects a professional and pragmatic approach, which should be applauded, to an inevitable conclusion when “agent for the consumer” is brought into the ATOL Scheme in 2013/14.”
A CAA spokesperson said: “We can confirm that Travel Republic holds an ATOL licence, ensuring consumers are protected when they book air travel holidays.”
Travel Republic said it would be applying for an Atol in May this year, apparently ending years of wrangling with the CAA over UK consumer protection laws.
The decision was hailed by industry experts, who said it could prove decisive in ensuring industry-wide compliance for the Flight-Plus system.
More to follow.