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, 7th November 2017, has announced the completion of the Autumn 2017 licensing round for travel agents and tour operators offering travel from Ireland.  A total of 116 travel agents and 26 tour operators were licensed in this round.  We issued licences to two new travel agents in this round.  Click here for up-to-date listings.

Based on applications received, travel agents have indicated a projected licensable turnover of €546 (2016 €524) million for the year ahead. The projection for tour operators is €190 (2016 €186) million. 

Five travel agents and six tour operators did not apply to have their licences renewed for a variety of reasons: 

Travel Agents

1. Scream Ltd TA 0679 (A travel agent that does not require to be licensed, primarily an events management company).
2. Irish Welcome Tours Ltd TA 0725 (A travel agent that does not require to be licensed, primarily an incoming travel agent).
3. McDermott Travel Ltd TA 0554 (MD Emer McDermott becoming Travel Counsellor)
4. Feerick Travel (Castlebar) Ltd TA 0433 (Ceased trading)
5. ST & H Ltd (formerly Acromas Holidays Ltd) TA 0598 (UK company no longing trading ex Rep of Ireland)

Tour Operators

1. Marathon Coach Travel Ltd TO 225 (See TA 0769 in current travel agents list, not renewing tour operator licence)
2. Celtic Horizon Tours Ltd TO 147 (See TA 0612 in current travel agents list not renewing tour operator licence,)
3. Specialist Holiday Group Ireland Ltd TO 029 (See TA 0136 in current travel agents list, not renewing tour operator licence)
4. Eirebus Ltd TO 258 (coach company no longer doing Travel ex Rep of Ireland)
5. World Challenge Expeditions Ltd TO 232 (UK no longer doing Travel ex Rep of Ireland)
6. Whartons Travel Limited TO 221 (See TA 0563 in current travel agents list, not renewing tour operator licence )

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 (TA), Unit 12, 1st Floor Glenrock Business Park, Bothar na Mine, Galway.
• P & P Associates Limited (TA) Patteson Court, Nutfield Road, Redhill, Surrey RH1 4ED, England (Update 21/11/2017 - This company is now licensed)
• Sindaco Ltd, (TA & TO) Unit 2 The Foundry Building, Beaver Street Off Foley Street , Dublin 1

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 2017. At this time, customers are advised that any such bookings made with these companies on or after 1st November 2017 will not be covered.  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.