6 tips to help you sail through the March ATOL renewal

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has now opened its ATOL Online portal in early December, allowing ATOL holders whose licence expires on 31 March 2024 to submit their renewal application. To help you prepare, here are our six learnings from previous renewal cycles. 

1 – Make sure your APC reporting is up to date

The CAA has made it clear that applicants must be up to date with their APC returns before the team starts their assessment. 

• Submitting your renewal application before 31 December 2023?
  • Quarterly APC reporters must have submitted the September 2023 APC return.
  • Monthly APC reporters must have submitted the November 2023 APC return.
• Submitting your renewal application after 31 December 2023?
  • Quarterly APC reporters must have submitted the December 2023 APC return;
  • For monthly reporters, it will depend on the actual date you submit your application. 

2 – Pay by Direct Debit (DD)

The CAA rewards licence holders who apply early with a reduced application fee, especially if you pay both your CAA admin and APC fees by DD. But it’s not just about the cost savings – having a DD in place ensures your Portfolio Manager at the CAA identifies that payment has been made on time rather than relying on their internal finance team to confirm the same. This helps avoid any last-minute hassle. 

3 – Speak to your ATOL Reporting Accounting (ARA) as soon as possible

ARAs are extra diligent when approving Annual Accountants Reports, especially AAR Part 1. So it might take a bit longer for them to sign off on things. It’s a good idea to talk to your ARA as soon as possible and agree on a schedule to avoid delays. It’s worth noting that if you need to make retrospective changes to your APC returns before your ARA signs AAR Part 1, it can take some time for the CAA to process and reissue an amended version. This could hold up your renewal.

4 – Avoid any possible delays

Keep up to date with your application and ensure you meet any requirements immediately. If the CAA asks for more information, respond promptly, and don’t avoid the issue, as it will only cause delays.  If you are licensed by the Aviation & Travel Finance division, you’re already likely to be in regular dialogue with your CAA Portfolio Manager, but if not, we highly recommend keeping them informed throughout the process. Communication is key.

5 – Re-visit your bond conditions

Our bond brokerage team has seen a significant improvement in the market recently. It’s worth contacting your insurance provider if you’ve been using a secured bond because there weren’t other options a year ago. They might be able to help you free up some cash by giving you some unsecured capacity instead.

6 – Don’t end up on ‘The List’

Many renewals go down to the wire, and a few can end up on the CAA’s list of companies that didn’t renew in time. Being on that list can damage your brand’s reputation. Start preparing your application well in advance so you’re not scrambling to meet the deadline.

If you’d like more information on the ATOL renewal process or need help submitting your application, you’re in luck! Our regulatory team has 57 combined years of experience working at the CAA, so they can help ensure you’re doing everything correctly and getting a fair deal. Please get in touch.

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