The Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) has announced the completion of the autumn 2018 licensing round for travel agents and tour operators. A total of 82 travel agents and 22 tour operators were licensed in this round. Click here for up-to-date listings. Six travel agent licences are still to be renewed, seven licences did not seek renewal, and 28 companies no longer need to be licenced separately in Ireland.
The following travel companies have applied to have their licences renewed but, at this time, do not have a licence:
- Atlantic Sky Team Tours Ltd (TA0751)
- Campingvision AG (TA762)
- Cathal Brady t/a Brady Travel (TA0030)
- David Ho t/a Sino Irish Travel (TA0125)
- Loraine Cunningham Travel Ltd (TA0582)
- One Foot Abroad (TA0785)
The Commission is continuing to engage with these firms and may issue licences in the future; if so, details will be updated on the CAR 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.
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 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 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 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 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 TA0766 (Voluntarily letting licence lapse)
- Holiday Plus Ltd TA0757 (Irish-established company dissolved in August 2018)
- ITS Travel Bureau TA0547 (Voluntarily letting licence lapse)
- Makkah Travel 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 TO048 (Voluntarily letting licence lapse)
- Holiday Plus Ltd TO267 (see above)
