MYTRAVEL’S online holiday auction facility has
been shut down with the loss of 13 jobs.
The auction facility on Mytravel.com, set up at the launch of
the Going Places TV station, allowed holidaymakers to bid low
amounts for last-minute holidays to shift late stock.
But MyTravel said its reduction in capacity – its ATOL is
now licensed to carry two million return passengers next year
compared to 2.8 million in 2004 – means it no longer needs
the site.
The operator fell short of admitting the site was loss-making
but said holidays had been sold at very low prices.
“At the time, getting a bum on a seat for £10 was better
than nothing,” said a spokeswoman.
Sales and product staff are based at the Deansgate call centre,
Manchester, which is due to be closed and consolidated into
MyTravel’s Holidayline call centres in Newcastle and
Accrington. A total of 160 staff are in consultation, due to end
next week.
A member of staff, who asked not to be named, claimed MyTravel
initially told employees they would be relocated to the Rochdale
head office and that staff now felt misled and left with “false
hopes”.
MyTravel said all Deansgate staff had originally been warned of
potential redundancy.