CAA figures just published note that the number of ATOL protected flights and holidays sold in summer 2003 was marginally lower than in the previous summer, with prices static. The 2004 edition of ATOL Business shows that 17.5m passengers (1% fewer than in summer 2002) were ATOL protected in Summer 2003, paying an average price of ”448 for their holidays. The biggest fall of 5% was in ATOL scheduled flight-only sales; package and charter business was virtually constant in both volume and price. Following a slightly larger fall in winter 2002/2003, the number of protected flights and holidays in the full year to September 2003 was 1.2% lower than in the previous 12 months at 27.5m, although package and charter business was again constant. Licences now granted for winter 2003/2004 suggests an expectation of almost 5% growth in the package and charter sector, offset by a further reduction in scheduled sales. Budget flights by scheduled operators do not require an ATOL.
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