Prestwick's main charter operator goes bust
12.09.08
A company that runs package holidays from Prestwick Airport has gone into administration with almost 2,500 holidaymakers abroad. Cheshire-based Seguro Holidays, which flies from Kent and Prestwick airports, blamed its troubles on the failure of Spanish airline Futura, which operated 80% of its flights and has entered insolvency proceedings.
Seguro, which launched in 1991, operated package holidays and flights to Spain, the Canaries and Portugal. It traded as Seguro Holidays and Kent Escapes, and sold mainly through travel agents. Those holidaymakers abroad will need to wait for alternative flights to be found. A further 17,253 people who had made advance bookings with Seguro have lost their holidays, but will get their money back.
In a statement released by the company, directors said: ‘Futura's collapse was totally unexpected as an airline with over 30 planes, having a good reputation and being one of Spain's respected airlines. After 10 years flying from Prestwick Airport and great support from travel agents and clients, we offer our sincere apologies and are very sad to have had to make this decision, but we were left with no alternative.’
‘Seguro Holidays are ATOL bonded and protected and as such are working with the CAA and ABTA to protect both their clients and travel agents. Customers in resorts will remain in their accommodation until alternative return flights are sourced, and those who have already booked a future holiday, their money is protected, and they will be able to claim back through the CAA or their credit card companies.’
The collapse of Seguro is a blow for Prestwick Airport where it has operated since 1998, and last year accounted for almost one in 20 of its passengers. It was the airport's biggest charter flights operator, taking 70,000 passengers abroad in the last year. It has also carried about 5000 passengers from Kent International Airport since 2006.
A spokesman for Prestwick Airport said: ‘Naturally we are very disappointed by this development as Seguro has been a successful operator here for 10 years, where they have built a very loyal customer base, and we had a strong working relationship with them.'
A CAA spokesman said: ‘The CAA, under its ATOL (Air Travel Organiser's Licensing) scheme, is making arrangements for customers abroad to complete their holidays and return to the UK and to refund fully those with forward bookings.’
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