Travel Agencies Close Doors

With a slowing economy, increased fuel charges on flights and future uncertainty causing travelers to delay holiday plans, 2008 has been a hard year for travel agencies. As a result Hellenic Voyages is the latest travel company to close this year amid the slow travel season. The Greece and Cyprus travel specialist is the ninth travel firm to collapse this year and many more still struggle to keep their doors open.

The Wakefield-based company, which also operated and traded under the names of SunEscapes and QuickEscapes, ceased trading yesterday. It offered flights, accommodation and package holidays to both Greece and Cyprus for UK travelers.
Travelers currently on holiday can complete their trip and fly home as planned with the assistance of the Civil Aviation Authority - CAA making the necessary arrangements with carriers.

The CAA is also assisting customers who have future bookings with the company in obtaining a refund. Holidaymakers due to travel soon are being advised not to go to their departure airport as all holidays and flights have been cancelled. Instead they should claim a refund from the CAA.

Two other Essex-based agencies, Mayflower Travel and Barwell Travel have also failed during the last week, with both blaming the current credit crunch for its collapse.
Mayflower Travel, based on the High Street in Billericay, specialised in tailor made holidays and had been trading for almost 11 years. It was set up in June 1997. Its website said the award-winning agency was “recognised as offering good service combined with quality products”.

www.caa.co.uk