Latest news with #AirTravelOrganisersLicensing
Metro
13 hours ago
- Business
- Metro
UK travel company goes bust with summer trips to 'iconic destinations' at risk
A UK travel company has gone bust, leaving thousands of holidaymakers in limbo ahead of summer. Great Little Escapes, based in Berkshire, offered package holidays to 'the most iconic cities in the world', including tours to Italy and the Balearics. But now, the UK's Civil Aviation Authority have confirmed that the company has 'ceased trading' as an ATOL holder, in a press release titled 'failure of Great Little Escapes'. The firm also traded under the following names and websites: Your Holidays Tunisia First The CAA said: 'We are currently collating information from the company and will update this page as soon as possible.' Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. It's not yet clear how travellers with upcoming holidays booked via Great Little Escapes will be affected. Back in April, another major UK travel company was forced to shut its doors after nearly 60 years in business. Balkan Holidays, which specialised in Bulgarian holidays and offered departures from 17 UK airports – more than any other British tour operator – ceased trading as of April 24. At its peak, the company served 130,000 travellers a year. However, in recent years, figures dropped significantly, and the provider was licensed to carry just 27,817 ATOL-protected passengers in the year to the end of March 2026. According to Citizens Advice, you're entitled to a full refund if the company cancels your holiday. This is because ATOL (which stands for Air Travel Organisers Licensing), the scheme by the CAA, offers financial protection to customers when you book a package holiday which includes a flight. ATOL protection means you'll get a refund for the package holiday, but it won't cover any other elements booked separately, such as car hire. More Trending ATOL may also be able to find another operator to take over your trip, although as Money Saving Expert says this is 'rare and not guaranteed.' The ATOL website explains: 'If you are due to travel on an ATOL protected trip and your travel company has ceased as an ATOL holder, we will offer advice on what steps to take. 'We'll let you know how to claim an ATOL refund. Our advice will often be either not to travel or, if you are in possession of flight tickets issued by the airline and they have confirmed they are valid, you can travel but you may need to pay for the cost of replacement services and then claim for these.' It adds: 'These services could include accommodation, transfers, car hire and any other parts of your ATOL protected booking.' Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Is it safe to travel to Turkey? Latest Foreign Office tourist advice MORE: All 9 countries on the UK Foreign Office 'no go' travel list MORE: Is it safe to travel to Cyprus? Latest Foreign Office tourist advice after Israel strikes Iran
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Thousands facing cancelled holidays after UK travel company goes bust
Thousands of people have been left facing cancelled holidays after a major UK travel company went bust. Jetline Travel, based in London and operating under a number of names, is no longer trading. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed that the company has ceased trading subject to the Air Travel Organisers Licensing. Jetline Travel also operated under names including JEtline Cruise, Bargain Late Holidays, and Elegant Gateways. Nearly 5,000 customers have been impacted by the company's collapse. Many of them had reserved holidays with Cunard, Princess Cruises, and Holland America, the Express reports. READ MORE: Viewers praise Captain Tom daughter GMB interview as 'greatest of all time' READ MORE: Virgin Atlantic issues statement after ex-Manchester City star Stuart Pearce suffers medical emergency Now, the bookings have been cancelled due to "breach of contract" between the cruise operators and Jetline. The CAA advised: 'If you are currently overseas and you hold a scheduled flight e-ticket, the flight remains valid for the return journey. You are advised to check in with the airline as per the existing flight ticket.' In a warning to customers, the CAA added that flights might still be operational but customers will not be covered for other services such as transfers and accommodation. The CAA added: 'Other services have not been paid to the local suppliers and you will be required to re-arrange and pay for these services again.' Some people also booked their trip as a cruise-only trip or accommodation without a flight, with the situation being even more uncertain for these customers. The ATOL scheme also does not cover these bookings, so any customers affected by this should contact the service provider directly. In addition, Jetline has acted on behalf of other ATOL-protected operators. This means that some customers could still be protected if the ATOL certificate they have lists a different company. The CAA urged affected travellers to check their documents: 'Check your ATOL Certificate under the 'Who is protecting your trip?' section. 'This will show who the responsible ATOL holder is. If the protector of your trip is still trading, you should contact that ATOL holder for further assistance.' Many customers have been left furious at the collapse, and some have said they are having trouble contacting Jetline. Taking to social media, one customer wrote: 'Our holiday including cruise, flights and hotels appears to have gone. Totally unable to contact Jetline.' Another customer said they had been told they would have to pay again for their holiday within 48 hours, or it would be cancelled. The Advantage Travel Partnership, a business network representing Jetline, said in a statement: 'We are greatly saddened that Jetline Travel has ceased trading. 'They have been a highly valued member of the Partnership since 2015, and our thoughts are with their customers and staff who have been impacted.' Passengers who booked through P&O Cruises have been reassured that their reservations have been transferred directly to the cruise line. The CAA is currently gathering information from the company and will provide further updates on how customers can make a claim.
