The UK Civil Aviation Authority understands the acute impact that Coronavirus is having on the industry, as well as those with upcoming travel plans. We are providing the below information for passengers, holidaymakers and the industry.
Please check this page regularly for any changes in our advice.
Travel advice from the Government is available at gov.uk.
Information relating to:
Information for tour operators
We are unable to offer a legal advice on the obligations a tour operator has under the Package Travel Regulations. We suggest operators contact their trade association for advice and/or seek independent legal advice.
Information for ATOL holders regarding refund credit notes
Please see the latest information on our Refund Credit Note policy.
How the UK Civil Aviation Authority is preparing
We have been working closely with the industry and supporting passengers during the coronavirus pandemic and we will play a full role in facilitating the industry’s recovery. Where possible and appropriate, we have already issued exemptions and alleviations so that licences and approvals can be maintained by those in the industry during this period. In addition, we have been looking closely at how we manage our internal costs.
CAA finances
The CAA is acutely aware of the impact that COVID-19 is having on the aviation, aerospace and travel industries, and we are doing everything we can to provide our support. This includes keeping our charges at FY 19/20 levels by not implementing general price increases for FY 21/22 or implementing the prior year general charge increase proposals.
Like some other regulators in the UK, we are funded by levying charges on the individuals and organisations we regulate to retain the capacity and capabilities we require to fulfil our functions. This principle is underpinned by statute and is one of our legal obligations. Despite these unprecedented times, this means we are unable to waive any of our charges and we are still required to issue invoices.
However, we continue to offer a payment plan to cover annual charges. This will spread the payments between now and the end of the February 2022. Please email credit.control@caa.co.uk if you wish to apply.
Information regarding invoices and payments
Q: The number of aircraft being charged for as part of my AOC annual charge has reduced substantially as most, if not all, are currently grounded. Therefore, should I not receive a reduction in the annual charge?
A: The number of aircraft has been based on the average of the numbers reported to the Civil Aviation Authority on 30 June and 31 December 2020 for Type A Aircraft and 31 May and 31 October 2020 for other operators in accordance with the Official Record Series 5, No. 372.
Q: There is a 'Concession on the calculation of the AOC annual charge' included in the Official Record Series 5, No. 372. Most, or all, of my fleet has been grounded and therefore why does this not apply to me?
A: There are several reasons why this would not apply:
- If the aircraft have only been grounded and have not been removed from the fleet
- If there are plans to increase the fleet or re-instate aircraft over the coming charge year
- The reduction did not take place prior to 1 April 2021
Q: I am unable to pay the charges levied or need to extend my payment term?
A: We appreciate the size of the impact COVID-19 is having on the aviation industry and are doing everything we can to support industry through this unprecedented event.
However, whilst we are unfortunately unable to waive our regulatory charges we are now able to offer a payment plan to those not eligible for our Direct Debit scheme to settle their 2021/2022 annual charges This will spread the payments between now and the end of the February 2022. Please email credit.control@caa.co.uk if you wish to apply.
Legal matters
CAA
To ensure concerns are dealt with as efficiently as possible during the current coronavirus situation, the Civil Aviation Authority will accept service of legal proceedings by email until 31 January 2022 on condition that the total size of the email, including any attachments, does not exceed 50 megabytes. Electronic documents should be in PDF, Word or Excel format.
Our email address for service of legal proceedings is: OGCMailbox@caa.co.uk
No other CAA email address should be used or will be accepted for service of legal proceedings by email.
The CAA will continue to accept service of legal proceedings sent by post to Legal Department, Aviation House, Beehive Ring Road, Crawley, West Sussex, RH6 0YR.
However, due to changing work patterns during the current coronavirus situation, where legal proceedings are served by post rather than by email, please also send copies of the relevant documents to the following email address at the same time as they are served on the CAA by post: OGCMailbox@caa.co.uk.
You are responsible for the security of the information you are sending and therefore you must assess its sensitivity and whether email is a secure enough method of communication.
Air Travel Trust (ATOL)
To ensure concerns are dealt with as efficiently as possible during the current coronavirus situation, the Air Travel Trust will accept service of legal proceedings by email until 31 January 2022 on condition that the total size of the email, including any attachments, does not exceed 50 megabytes. Electronic documents should be in PDF, Word or Excel format.
The email address for service of legal proceedings is: OGCMailbox@caa.co.uk.
No other email address should be used or will be accepted for service of legal proceedings by email.
The Air Travel Trust will continue to accept service of legal proceedings sent by post to Air Travel Trust, CAA Legal Department, Aviation House, Beehive Ring Road, Crawley, West Sussex, RH6 0YR
However, due to changing work patterns during the current coronavirus situation, where legal proceedings are served by post rather than by email, please also send copies of the relevant documents to the following email address at the same time as they are served on the Air Travel Trust by post: OGCMailbox@caa.co.uk.
You are responsible for the security of the information you are sending and therefore you must assess its sensitivity and whether email is a secure enough method of communication.
Contacting the CAA
We are currently experiencing an increase in correspondence and are working hard to continue operations as normal. However, to protect the health, wellbeing and safety of our employees, and to continue to deliver our core regulatory services, the vast majority of our staff our now working remotely. These measures have been introduced following advice from the Government and to reduce the likelihood of a number of staff becoming unavailable at once, however this will mean there could be service delays or delays in responding to calls or enquiries. We would like to thank you for bearing with us during this time.
As most of our colleagues are working remotely, we strongly recommend you contact us by email rather than post. If your preferred means of contact is by post, please be aware that responses may take considerably longer than during normal conditions.
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