Jet2holidays has issued a winding up order to Stockport travel agent Top Class Travel over outstanding debts of £70,000, some of which have been owed since March 2012.
In a strongly worded statement Philip Meeson, chairman of Jet2holidays, said he was outraged at what he described as Top Class Travel’s “dishonest” practices.
“We fully support the UK travel trade but this sort of dishonest practice is absolutely outrageous,” said Meeson.
“We have taken 110 passengers on fabulous, mainly all-inclusive, holidays and we haven’t been paid. Top Class Travel is ripping us off as well as our customers.
“We have continually phoned and visited their offices to try to arrive at an agreement regarding their outstanding debts, without any success. It’s disgusting, they’ve effectively stolen money from Jet2holidays’ loyal holidaymakers.”
Meeson added Jet2holidays was not not prepared to stand for the situation, which is why it had decided to take the course of action.
Top Class Travel, a member of the Advantage Travel Centres consortium, was contacted by Travel Weekly and asked to put its side of the story but declined to do so.
Top Class Travel is an Abta member, and an Abta spokeswoman said: “We are monitoring the situation. It is a code of conduct requirement to pay suppliers on time. We are in contact with both parties.”