Golf Travel Group has insisted it remains trading despite the Civil Aviation Authority announcing it has been “classified as a failed Atol holder”.
The London-based specialist operator trades under the names Golf Travel Centre and Chaka Golf Travel and websites golftravelcentre.com and chakatravel.com.
The company held an Atol up until September 30, 2024, according to the regulator.
“Bookings and payments made after 30 October 2024 are not Atol protected under Atol 11319,” the CAA said in a notice on its Atol failures web page.
“We are currently collating information from the company and will update this page as soon as possible.”
Company chief executive and founder Patrick McCaghy confirmed that the company, which handles around 20,000 golf holidaymakers a year, was continuing to trade.
He explained that only 15% of bookings were Atol sales and existing bookings have been re-routed through a partner’s Atol.
Non-flight package bookings, where Golf Travel Group is the package organiser, are protected with the company being bonded with Abta.
“Flight bookings only make up a small amout of bookings,” he said.
“We are making adjustments to our flight booking process.”
McCaghy said the company was looking to liaise with the CAA’s Atol department to find a long-term solution.