Preston Travel, the parent company of Longwood Holidays and Amathus Holidays, has ceased trading due to insolvency, Abta has confirmed.
The Barnet-based operator also owns Preston Holidays, which sells holidays to the Channel Islands, and Egypt specialist Peltours. The company employed 30 people in the UK and overseas.
There are around 4,500 consumers with forward bookings and 144 consumers currently on holiday.
Those with a booking involving a flight should obtain a claims form from the CAA at www.atol.org.uk. For any other kind of booking, ie packages involving travel by ferry or coach, or accommodation only, consumers should contact ABTA, www.abta.com/claims
Many of the customers currently on holiday are on packages covered by the Atol scheme. For non-flight based holidays and accommodation only bookings, Abta has made arrangements to pay hoteliers for those currently overseas, as well as those travelling out this weekend, saving consumers the inconvenience of paying again and claiming refunds on return.
John de Vial, Abta’s head of financial protection, said: “Preston Travel is a well-known, long-established company and we are sorry to announce that they have ceased trading.
“Abta will be arranging swift refunds for anyone who has booked a non-flight based package or accommodation-only booking. In addition we are pleased to offer reassurance to those already abroad or travelling out this weekend on similar trips that we will be seeking to secure their arrangement with hotels directly, allowing them to enjoy the rest of their holidays without the worry of claiming refunds on return.”
The operator was licensed to carry 23,543 passengers for the 12 months to March 2014.
Preston acquired Longwood Holidays, specialising in trips to Egypt, Israel and Morocco, in 2010. The group sold homeworking company Kwik Travel in 2011 as part of a strategy to focus on its core tour operating brands.
The company has no connection with Preston Travel Centre in Preston, Lancashire.