Inertia

The below is not exhaustive, but gives a timeline of the constantly delayed progress of ATOL reform and the failure of the ATT trustees to publish the ATT accounts – a matter of public concern:

ATOL reform

24 July 2020
At the conference between Trailfinders and the CAA on 24 July 2020 we were told the ATOL Consultation would begin in the first two months of 2021 (not launched until 29 April 2021).

29 April 2021
On 29 April 2021, Paul Smith announced: “The (ATOL) consultation will close on 30 July 2021 and the UK Civil Aviation Authority will then consider recommendations ahead of launching a second consultation making specific proposals in early 2022.” (The closing date was deferred to 16 August 2021 as the CAA accepted the spurious argument that the Travel Industry was busy over the summer to submit responses)

1 September 2021
Michael Budge says ATOL Consultation Response is due to be published in “spring 2022”: “We would like to reaffirm that no decision has yet been made and that the Civil Aviation Authority will be considering all evidence and opinions provided to us. Our proposals for changes will be set out in the second consultation document which is due for publication in spring 2022.” (As we approach Spring 2023 this second consultation is still not published)

3 February 2022
Richard Moriarty tells us: “you ask for an update on our work on ATOL Reform……That work is proceeding, and we will shortly publish a summary of the responses.”

(However, this Summary of Responses and next steps was only published in May 2022, over 3 months later)

29 March 2022
Paul Smith then changes tack by announcing at the AITO General Meeting that: “There will be another consultation in the middle of the year – around summer time.” (We had assumed he meant summer 2022, but there is still no sign of it)

5 July 2022
We asked if there was any chance that the second ATOL consultation gets pushed back into next year? Paul Smith answered: “I absolutely hope not”.

We then asked: “What is your best guess or target?” Paul Smith says: “Later this year.”

(The second ATOL consultation is still not published at 17 January 2023)

18 November 2022
Richard Moriarty writes to say about the second document on ATOL reform: “we intend to publish by the end of 2022.”

(The second ATOL consultation is still not published at 17 January 2023)

23 December 2022
Paul Smith emailed us to say that say they will miss their own timetable yet again to publish stage 2 of the ATOL consultation: “The CAA had intended to publish a further document (for consultation) by the end of 2022. Publication of this second document will now take place early in the New Year.”

(The second ATOL consultation is still not published at 17 January 2023)

Air Travel Trust Accounts

25 September 2020
Paul Smith tells us, “We expect the 2018 / 2019 ATT accounts to be completed and published by the end of October. It is not the ATT’s usual practice to publish periodic balance but, on this occasion, the Trustees will consider what additional information can be provided alongside the 2018 / 2019 ATT accounts to inform understanding of the ATT financial position.”

(Actually published 16 November 2020)

25 January 2021
Paul Smith tells us of 2020 Accounts: “the auditors did not start the detailed work on them until the 2019 accounts were finalised, as the priority was to finalise these accounts first. That work is under way and we expect these accounts to be published soon.”

(These accounts were eventually published on 30 September 2021 – 18 months after the financial year ended).

17 September 2021
Paul Smith tells us of 2021 Accounts: “Only once these have been finalised can work begin on the 2020 / 21 accounts, and consequently we expect them to be published early next year.”

(Currently, we have no indication as to when the ATT Accounts for 2021 will be published)