Four travel companies including one in West Yorkshire have gone out of business in 2026, resulting in all bookings being cancelled.
With aviation fuel costs rocketing following the Iran crisis and international travel facing uncertainty due to travel warnings, additional firms could yet be forced to the brink. When holiday firms do go under, bookings are scrapped and travellers forfeit both their trip and their money, unless their company was protected by ATOL.
In January, Regen Central Ltd entered liquidation and cancelled all holidays without offering refunds. The company, which was established in Hertfordshire in 2011 before relocating to London, had its ATOL protection removed on January 13, reports the Express.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed that Regen Central had no outstanding ATOL protected bookings, and that those purchased as accommodation only, non-flight or flight only bookings are not covered by ATOL.
On January 23, British coach operator Gold Crest Holidays stopped trading on January 23, closing down its operations with immediate effect. All upcoming trips and packages were cancelled. The family-run West Yorkshire business which had been operating for 30 years blamed increasing costs for its decision to cease operations.
It stated on its website: “After more than 30 years of creating unforgettable holidays, we are deeply saddened to announce that Gold Crest Holidays has ceased trading with immediate effect and has taken steps to enter voluntary liquidation.
“This difficult decision follows the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, strategic changes in key partner arrangements that adversely affected our business, and a challenging trading environment with significantly rising costs.
“We are immensely grateful to our loyal customers, travel agents, suppliers, and dedicated staff for your support over the years. We are truly sorry we can no longer continue.
“All future departures are cancelled. The ABTA bond provides protection. ABTA will handle refunds and assistance. Contact ABTA at: Phone: 0203 758 8730.”
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Documents lodged with Companies House in March show the company entered voluntary liquidation.
Asiara UK, formerly trading as Haivenu Tours, was established in 2022 and specialised in holiday packages to Asian destinations including China, Thailand and India. The company stopped trading on January 21. According to Protected Trust Services, no existing bookings were impacted as the Ipswich-based operator had no future reservations when it closed down.
The company was subsequently dissolved through voluntary strike-off on January 23.
Simply Florida, a Glasgow-based travel agency in Scotland, specialised in arranging holidays to Disneyland Paris, DisneyWorld Florida, Universal Studios, New York, Niagara Falls and Toronto, as well as cruise holidays.
The company submitted its application for removal from Companies House in October and officially stopped trading on January 20. Holidaymakers who had trips arranged would have seen their bookings cancelled, but as the company was ATOL protected, they should have received refunds.
