CAR News Archive

The Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) issues new licences and renews existing licences for travel agents and tour operators twice a year.  The first round of licences are issued on the 1st May (the Spring round) and the second round of licences are issued on the 1st November (the Autumn round). A licence is valid for a period of twelve months after its date of issue.

CAR today, 11th November 2016, has announced the completion of the Autumn 2016 licensing round for travel agents and tour operators offering travel from Ireland.  A total of 125 travel agents and 41 tour operators were licensed in this round.  We issued licences to nine new travel agents and one new tour operator in this round.  Taken together with the Spring licensing round, a total of 222 travel agents and 44 tour operators are licensed to operate in Ireland.  Click herefor details of all licensed travel agents and tour operators.

Based on applications received, travel agents have indicated a projected licensable turnover of €524million for the year ahead. The projection for tour operators is €186 million. 

Six travel agents and one tour operator did not apply to have their licences renewed for a variety of reasons: 

Maureen Delmar TA 0600  (a travel agent now trading as M Delmar Travel Ltd TA 0773)
Ebookers.ie Ltd TA 0507 (a travel agent that is now part of Expedia.inc TA 0671)
Mary Concannon TA 0584 (a travel agent that has ceased trading)
Memet Uludag TA 0647 (a travel agent that has ceased trading)
P&MM Travel Ltd TA 0540 (a travel agent that is not licensed in Ireland))
Alpha International Accommodation Ltd TA 0714 (a travel agent that is now part of Truly Travel (Ire) Ltd TA 0771)
P J Martley Ltd TO261 (a tour operator that does not require to be licensed)

The following travel companies have applied to have their licences renewed but, at this time, do not have a licence:

Atlantic Sky Team Tours Limited, Unit 12, 1st Floor Glenrock Business Park, Bothar na Mine, Galway.
DB Tours Ltd, Unit 2, Newmarket Hall, St Luke’s Avenue, Cork Street, Dublin 8.
PCE Coaches Ltd, Rockfield, Tralee Road, Killarney, Co Kerry

The CAR is continuing to engage with these firms and may issue licences in due course; if so, we will update details on our website.

The three companies listed above must not take any new bookings for overseas travel from 1st November 2016. At this time, customers are advised that any such bookings made with these companies on or after 1st November 2016 will not be covered by the travel protection fund.  Passengers that have made overseas travel booking before this date are covered.

The CAR operates a travel protection scheme to give protection to people booking overseas travel packages in the event that the tour operator or travel agent ceases trading and passengers are (a) stranded abroad or (b) their travel contracts are not fulfilled before the due date of travel. If a company is unlicensed, any bookings for overseas travel packages made by passengers are not covered by these protection arrangements.