Atol holders renew their licences every year, either at the end of March or the end of September. Without an Atol, they cannot sell flight-inclusive packages.

There were 1,674 businesses licensed under the Atol scheme at the end of March 2026.

At that last round of Atol renewals, for the 702 licences that expired at the end of March, 636 were renewed by the deadline with 26 still in the application process or yet to meet licence conditions.

While for the 1,035 Atols that expired at the end of September 2025, 934 were renewed, with 45 still in the application process or yet to meet licence conditions.

The CAA on Monday (13 July) said it would introduce discounted renewal fees ahead of the upcoming September renewal period for complete applications received before 1 September. An even higher discount will be offered for businesses that get their Atol formalities sorted before 1 August.

In addition, Atol holders that pay both their CAA and Atol Protection Contribution fees by direct debit will be eligible for further savings.

"The incentives are designed to support a smoother renewal process and reduce last-minute pressure on both businesses and the regulator’s licensing team" said the CAA.

"Submitting complete applications in advance helps ensure they can be processed ahead of the deadline, enabling companies to continue selling ATOL-protected holidays without interruption from 1 October 2026."

Cecile Durand-Agbo, Head of Atol Licensing Operations at the CAA, added: “The availability of fee discounts means there is a clear benefit for businesses that apply early, while also helping to ensure a smoother renewal process across the industry.

"We encourage all Atol holders due to renew in September to submit their applications in good time, to avoid any risk of disruption to their ability to trade from 1 October."