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 is 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, 12th November 2019, has announced the completion of the Autumn 2019 licensing round for travel agents and tour operators offering travel departing from Ireland.  A total of 83 travel agents and 19 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:

1. Atlantic Sky Team Tours Limited (TA0751)
2. John Moran t/a EU Tours (TA0578)
3. PCE Coaches Ltd (TO269)

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

The companies listed above must not take any new bookings for overseas travel from 1st November 2019. At this time, customers are advised that any such bookings made with these companies on or after 1st November 2019 will not be covered.  Passengers that have made an overseas travel booking before this date are covered.

Based on applications received in this round, travel agents have indicated a projected licensable turnover of €433 (2018 €443) million for the year ahead. The projections for tour operators is €163 (2018 €159) million.

Following the transposition of EU Directive 2015/2302 (Package Travel Directive) into Irish law, only Irish established entities may be licenced by this Commission. Four entities, established outside of the European Union who were previously licenced by the Commission up to the 31st October 2019, no longer hold an Irish licence. However, three of these entities have put in place appropriate arrangements to allow them to continue to trade in Ireland. These are:

• Expedia Inc: This company has provided the Commission with evidence of insolvency protection insurance for their sales of packages in Ireland.
• The Travel Corporation Ireland Ltd: This company has provided the Commission with evidence of insolvency protection insurance for sales of packages in Ireland.
• Bravonext S.A. t/a Lastminute.com: All Irish sales from 1st November 2019 are being handled by their Spanish established entity “Red Universal de Marketing y Bookings Online, S.A” and the Commission has received confirmation of this.

The fourth entity, Campingvision AG, formerly DBF Travel AG, is now an accommodation only provider so no cover is required.

The following entities did not apply to have their licences renewed:

• MAP Travel TA0474 and TO209
• Global Teamwork Limited TA0650
• Matthews Coach Hire Limited TO263
• Prime Marketing Limited TA0749
• Travel Choice Limited TA0447 TO114
• TUI Ireland Limited TA0775
• Affinion International Travel Limited
• Shannon Air Ground Handling Limited

For a variety of reasons, they either no longer need or are required to have a licence/insolvency protection in place.