Sad day for Alan Bartram

ALAN Bartram Travel has gone into voluntary liquidation blaming competition from the low-cost carriers operating from nearby Luton Airport.

The Luton-based agency, which also had branches in Stopsley, Dunstable and Sundon Park, Bedfordshire, failed on Monday morning after its bank pulled its overdraft.

The Midconsort member, which sadly collapsed on the day of its 20th anniversary, had a turnover of £3 million and employed 12 staff. There were 200 forward bookings.

Managing director Alan Bartram said: “I think there are probably quite a number of agents who are vulnerable. Everybody’s putting a brave face on it.”

“With the events of September 11 2001 and the growth of the Internet, it has been harder and harder for agents. In the end, the bank said it was not going to go any further. It is a sad day for me, the industry and the local community,” he said.

Bartram, who was well known in the industry for hosting the annual Barty Awards where staff voted for their favourite suppliers, said the number of no-frills carriers flying out of Luton Airport had made business more difficult.

“The ‘mum, dad and two point four children’ family doesn’t exist any longer. They are still going on holiday, but if you live in Luton there are so many low-cost carriers competing for your business.

“We did sell them, but few of them and at a fee. But why pay me when holidays can be booked at home?”

Bartram said he knew trading was difficult and coming up to November and December it was going to get worse, rather than better.

• Meanwhile, Swansea-based agent Eurodestination has also ceased trading. ABTA said the agency, which was also an ATOL holder, had been unable to meet its liabilities. Claims will be handled by the Civil Aviation Authority.