Caution urged after closure

BOOKINGS: CONSUMERS have been warned to ensure their holiday bookings are made with bonded tour operators following the collapse this week of the Mayo-based operator Ronane Travel/Great Escapes.

The collapse of the company has affected almost 1,000 holidaymakers: 500 who are currently abroad with the company and more than 400 who had made bookings.

In July another bonded Irish tour operator, Fáilte Travel, also went out of business, leaving 200 people stranded in Cyprus for more than 48 hours and resulting in the loss of a holiday for about 3,000 people.

Because both companies weres bonded - that is, had lodged money - with the Commission for Aviation Regulation, all customers are entitled to a full refund, or to a flight home if they are abroad.

"This shows there is a strong level of consumer protection [under the legislation] which has stood up exceedingly well," said Simon Nugent, chief executive of the Irish Travel Agents Association. Great Escapes was not a member of the ITAA.

Travellers affected can download refund forms from www.aviationreg.ie.

Meanwhile, hundreds of travellers have been left stranded at Belfast, Cardiff and Glasgow airports, and at airports in Canada, after the collapse of Zoom, the transatlantic budget airline. Zoom blamed what it called the horrendous price of fuel and the economic slowdown.

Passengers stranded in Belfast were yesterday trying to make alternative travel arrangments.