Air Travel Organisers' Licensing Bill: Lords third reading

The Air Travel Organisers' Licensing Bill had its third reading, a further chance to examine the bill and make changes, in the Lords on Tuesday 31 October.

No changes were made to the bill at third reading. As both Houses have agreed on the text of the bill it now awaits Royal Assent when the bill will become an Act of Parliament (law).

A date for Royal Assent has yet to be scheduled.

Lords report stage: Wednesday 25 October

Members discussed subjects including air travel organisers’ licences and Monarch Airlines.

Lords committee stage: Wednesday 11 October

The committee stage of this bill took place in Grand Committee, a room outside the Lords chamber. Any member can take part and decisions on amendments can be made, but no votes take place.

Members discussed a range of subjects, including the definition of the Air Travel Trust, amendments to the Civil Aviation (Air Travel Organisers' Licensing) Regulations 2012 and the impact of Brexit on consumer protection under the ATOL scheme.

Lords second reading: Tuesday 5 September

Members discussed the key points raised by the bill, including consumer protection in the event of travel company failings, the ATOL license fee for member travel companies and the rationale for updating the UK travel protection package to match European directives in light of EU withdrawal.

Members also raised a number of questions on issues including improvements to travel insurance compensation schemes, the unease of travel companies operating in Europe post-Brexit, the impact of drones on aircraft safety and the rise of online travel bookings contributing to a decline in the use of ATOL-protected companies.