Tour operator Flash Pack has been placed in administration, but hopes to relaunch “when or if the pandemic allows”.
The London-based direct-sell adventure and solos specialist created group trips to worldwide destinations targeted at travellers in their 30s and 40s.
Its failure was confirmed by the Civil Aviation Authority, which said Flash Pack ceased trading on November 3, 2020. Its Atol licence expired on October 1.
But founders Radha Vyas and Lee Thompson said they would re-mortgage their house with the view to relaunching Flash Pack in 2021 after a period of “hibernation”.
A post on the company’s website said: “Like many travel businesses, the Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on Flash Pack. The industry has been hit hard, affecting group travel aimed at solo travellers particularly badly.
“We’ve spent every day of the last seven months searching for ways that would allow Flash Pack to continue, from funding to furloughing. And, although we know travel will return, continuing to search for a viable solution with no clear idea of when this will happen is now too great a risk.
“With that in mind, Lee and I have decided to place Flash Pack into administration immediately, to help our existing customers get a refund as quickly as possible.
“However, we’re not ready for the adventure to end.
“By remortgaging our home, we’ve been able to save the business – and our hope is to relaunch some time in 2021, when or if the pandemic allows. The future of our adventure is still uncertain and we have no idea if we’ll be back but, for now, our website and social channels will remain online, in hibernation.”
Customers with Flash Pack bookings are asked to contact The Travel Vault.
Flight-inclusive package holidays booked before October 1 are protected under the Atol scheme, while holidays booked without flights are covered by Flash Pack’s financial failure insurance, the Travel Vault website said.
