A failed Abta member has left up to 1,200 customers at risk of losing elements of their holidays after trading as an agent for the consumer.
Romford-based Airborn Ltd ceased trading at the end of last week. Abta confirmed Airborn had 500 forward bookings, leaving about 1,200 customers affected. It is unclear whether any were away when the company folded.
The association also confirmed the company booked flights with customers’ credit cards, so clients should still have their flight bookings. However, the status of hotel bookings, car hire, transfers and other holiday elements remain unclear. It is likely clients will face paying for these again.
The company’s website referred clients to both Abta and the Civil Aviation Authority, which regulates the Atol consumer protection scheme. However, the CAA said “not many, if any” sales were Atol protected.
The Department for Transport has said it intends to draw up legislation to restrict travel companies acting as agents for the consumer, as part of a second stage of Atol reform, possibly next year.
Airborn traded under a series of names:
- Airborn Direct
- AirbornEvents
- AirbornFlights4Less
- AirbornHolidays4Less
- AirbornSki
- AirbornSport
- AirbornTravel4Less
- AirbornWorldwide
- dialacruise.com
- Holiday Hero
- Seaborn
- Seabourne
- Telebreaks
- Teleflights
- Teleholidays