Jet2holidays.com is switching its consumer protection policy to an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL), which will provide added levels of cover for its holidaymakersas the tour operator annnounced. According to Jet2holidays.com, the tour operator’s existing scheme already comprehensively covered its customers, but the policy did not allow it to expand to destinations not served by its sister airline, Jet2.com, or sell its packaged products through the trade.

Now its ATOL means it can package together flights from other airlines – last week Jet2holidays.com announced that it would start operating package holidays to Sharm El Sheikh in November with XL Airways.

Richard Bodin, Managing Director of Jet2holidays.com, said: “Customer service is our number one priority alongside value for money, and our new ATOL gives us greater flexibility to offer a broader range of low cost package holidays to a wider UK market. Of course, we will continue to use Jet2.com flights for the vast majority of our holidays, but it was always our intention to expand beyond their 39 destinations and we will be using other operators where we don’t have Jet2.com access.”

He went on to say, “Every year, more than 26 million people in the UK buy air holidays from tour operators covered by the scheme, so our customers are in good company. As we strive to become the biggest tour operator in the North, this gives travel agents and consumers alike added confidence in every aspect of our low cost packages.”

Andy Cohen, Manager ATOL Licensing at the CAA, said: “Jet2Holidays’ ATOL will provide its customers with the confidence that their package holidays have the benefit of full financial protection.”

ATOL, Air Travel Organisers` Licensing, is managed by the CAA and gives comprehensive protection to consumers from losing money or being stranded abroad. It is the only financial protection scheme for air holidays sold by tour operators. Currently, more than 2,500 firms are licenced by the CAA. Jet2holidays.com ATOL number is 9618.