Airline's collapse shuts down another travel firm

Published on Wednesday 10 September 2008 22:07

THOUSANDS of Scottish holidaymakers are facing an uncertain end to their trips after another travel firm collapsed yesterday.

Seguro Travel said it been forced out of business by the earlier demise of the Spanish charter airline Futura, which operated 80 per cent of its flights.

The Cheshire-based firm has some 2,500 customers in Spain and Portugal, most of whom flew from Prestwick airport.

The company has also taken about 18,000 bookings for future trips.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is arranging from Seguro customers abroad to return with other airlines.

Seguro operates from Prestwick to Girona, Alicante, Lanzarote, Las Palmas, Palma and Tenerife in Spain, and Faro in Portugal.

Futura went into administration on Monday, but Prestwick airport said Seguro had operated two outbound flights with other airlines on Tuesday.

Industry experts said those who had booked packages would receive refunds eventually, but alternative holidays might be difficult to find.

Seguro customers are expected to be protected through the firm's membership of the Air Travel Organisers' Licensing scheme.

Futura, which was also used by Thomas Cook and TUI, blamed high fuel costs for its collapse. Another airline Zoom, which operated between Britain and Canada, went out of business two weeks ago.