CAR News Archive

The Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) issues 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 from date of issue.

The Commission today, 7th November 2018, has announced the completion of the Autumn 2018 licensing round for travel agents and tour operators offering travel departing from Ireland.  A total of 85 travel agents and 23 tour operators were licensed in this round. Click here for up-to-date listings.

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 (TA0751)
• Campingvision AG (TA762)
• Cathal Brady t/a Brady Travel (TA0030)
• David Ho t/a Sino Irish Travel (TA0125)
• One Foot Abroad (TA0785)

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

The companies listed above must not take any new bookings for overseas travel from 1st November 2018. At this time, customers are advised that any such bookings made with these companies on or after 1st November 2018 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.

Based on applications received, travel agents have indicated a projected licensable turnover of €443 (2017 €546) million for the year ahead. The projections for tour operators is €159 (2017 €190) million. 

The reductions in both the number of licenced entities and turnover is based on the fact that under Directive 2015/2302 (Package Travel Directive), which came into force on the 1st July 2018, companies established in other EU member states are now regulated from the member state in which they are established and can trade in Ireland without needing a licence provided they have sufficient insolvency protection in place in their country of establishment and must provide evidence of same to the Commission. The net effect of the Directive is that EU established companies no longer need to be licenced separately in Ireland. Twenty-eight such entities, previously licenced by the Commission up to the 31st October 2018, no longer hold an Irish licence.  

• Avios Group (AGL) Ltd
• British Airways Holidays Ltd
• Canterbury Travel (London) Ltd
• Caribtours Ltd
• Classic Collection Holidays Ltd
• Diversity Travel Ltd
• Euro Disney Vacances S.A.S.
• Hurtigruten Ltd
• Ickenham Travel Group Plc
• If Only Holidays Ltd
• James Villa Holidays Ltd
• MSC Cruises Ltd
• Oasis Travel (NI) Ltd
• P & P Associates Ltd
• RCL Cruises Ltd
• Riviera Tours Ltd
• RSD Travel Ltd
• Sunshine Cruise Holidays Ltd
• Stena Line Travel Group AB
• Sunspot Tours Ltd
• Superbreak Mini-Holidays Ltd
• Tailored Travel Ltd
• The Walt Disney Company Ltd
• Thomas Cook Retail Ltd
• Travix Nederland B.V.
• Travel Republic Ltd
• We Love Holidays Ltd
• Wendy Wu Tours Ltd

Seven entities, comprising of five travel agents, one tour operator and one holder of both licences, did not apply to have their licences renewed for a variety of reasons: 

Travel Agents

• Ryanair for Schools Ltd TA 0766 (Voluntarily letting licence lapse)
• Holiday Plus Ltd TA0757 (Irish established company dissolved in August 2018)
• ITS Travel Bureau Ltd TA0547 (Voluntarily letting licence lapse)
• Makkah Travels Ireland Ltd TA0779 (Voluntarily letting licence lapse)
• World Rugby Ltd TA0763 (Voluntarily letting licence lapse)
• Whartons Travel Ltd TA0563 (Transferring business to separate UK established entity)

Tour Operators

• United Irish Pilgrimages to Lourdes TO 048 (Voluntarily letting licence lapse)
• Holiday Plus Ltd TO267 (see above)

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Updated 7th November 2018