ALAN Bartram Travel has gone into voluntary liquidation
blaming competition from the low-cost carriers operating from
nearby Luton Airport.
The Luton-based agency, which also had branches in Stopsley,
Dunstable and Sundon Park, Bedfordshire, failed on Monday morning
after its bank pulled its overdraft.
The Midconsort member, which sadly collapsed on the day of its
20th anniversary, had a turnover of £3 million and employed 12
staff. There were 200 forward bookings.
Managing director Alan Bartram said: “I think there are probably
quite a number of agents who are vulnerable. Everybody’s
putting a brave face on it.”
“With the events of September 11 2001 and the growth of the
Internet, it has been harder and harder for agents. In the end, the
bank said it was not going to go any further. It is a sad day for
me, the industry and the local community,” he said.
Bartram, who was well known in the industry for hosting the
annual Barty Awards where staff voted for their favourite
suppliers, said the number of no-frills carriers flying out of
Luton Airport had made business more difficult.
“The ‘mum, dad and two point four children’ family
doesn’t exist any longer. They are still going on holiday,
but if you live in Luton there are so many low-cost carriers
competing for your business.
“We did sell them, but few of them and at a fee. But why pay me
when holidays can be booked at home?”
Bartram said he knew trading was difficult and coming up to
November and December it was going to get worse, rather than
better.
- Meanwhile, Swansea-based agent Eurodestination has also ceased
trading. ABTA said the agency, which was also an ATOL holder, had
been unable to meet its liabilities. Claims will be handled by the
Civil Aviation Authority.