Flight worry after Seguro demise

The Seguro desk at Prestwick Airport in Ayrshire is closed

Travellers stranded by the collapse of package holiday firm Seguro are facing a shortage of available flights, according to a leading travel agent.

Bill Munro, the owner of Scotland's largest travel agent, Barrhead Travel, said a combination of factors meant there were very few flights to sell.

Almost 2,500 holidaymakers are thought to have been abroad when Seguro went into administration on Wednesday.

The firm flew from airports in Kent and Prestwick in Ayrshire.

"It's come at an unfortunate time because there is so little availability just now and I don't think the public realise just how bad it is," said Mr Munro.

"It's been exacerbated with Ryanair cancelling flights from Edinburgh through late delivery of aircraft and there's up to 40,000 people there looking for alternative flights.

Some of the other tour operators are capitalising on it by putting their prices up by £50 to £100 per passenger Bill Munro Barrhead Travel

"Of course, there's all the people from Seguro and Zoom Airlines (which went bust last month), so there's very little left to sell unfortunately.

"Some of the other tour operators are capitalising on it by putting their prices up by £50 to £100 per passenger."

Mr Munro said Barrhead Travel had about 3,000 customers who were due to travel with Seguro when it went into administration.

He advised those affected to contact their local branch or telephone [phone] for assistance.

Graeme Lusk, from Lochwinnoch, is on holiday in Gran Canaria with his wife and 10-month-old son. They are due to fly back on Saturday morning but have had no information about alternative arrangements.

He told BBC Radio Scotland that lack of communication was the real problem.

He added: "If someone was here to tell us what was going on or we were told somebody would be here tomorrow at lunchtime to let us know...it would be fine. There's uncertainty just now."

Prior to the collapse, more than 17,000 people had made advance bookings with Seguro, which operated package holidays and flights to Spain, the Canaries and Portugal.

The Macclesfield-based firm blamed its failure on Spanish airline Futura, which operated 80% of its flights.

Futura launched insolvency proceedings, citing high fuel costs.

Atol protection

Seguro, which also traded as Seguro Holidays and Kent Escapes, sold mainly through travel agents.

Those who have booked a package holiday are likely to be protected by the Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (Atol) system.

Travel companies in the Atol scheme lodge a financial guarantee bond with the Civil Aviation Authority which can be used to bring stranded clients home, and compensate those who have future bookings.

More than 2,500 Seguro customers were abroad when it went bust

Across the UK, airports and tour operators have been trying to reassure passengers caught up in the collapse.

A spokesperson for Humberside Airport said: "The tour operators Thomson and Thomas Cook are currently looking into alternative flights for all passengers who have been affected.

"For any queries, can customers please contact the tour operator direct."

A spokesman for Thomson said: "First Choice and Thomson can confirm we have a minimal number of passengers travelling with Futura each week.

"Alternative flights are currently being confirmed for customers booked to travel imminently and options are being explored for those customers travelling at a later date.

"We would like to reassure our customers that as an Atol bonded company, our holidays are financially protected, including any Thomson or First Choice package holiday incorporating Futura flights."

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