The liquidator appointed to Budget Travel said today that all holidaymakers who are due to return to Ireland over the coming days will be flying back on scheduled flights.
The provisional liquidator to the tour operator Simon Coyle of Mazars, and representatives from the firm met with the Commission for Aviation Regulation last night to organise the return of holidaymakers.
It has been confirmed that all holidaymakers who are due back later today, tomorrow and over the weekend will be returning on the scheduled flights.
Passengers due home next week are to be contacted about alternative arrangements for returning to Ireland.
Holidaymakers who have not yet travelled can obtain a refund from the Commission for Aviation Regulation by filling out a claim form which is available on the regulator’s website at aviationreg.ie
Ireland’s largest tour operator announced yesterday afternoon that it was to cease trading immediately with the loss of 172 jobs and the closure of 17 shops.
Some 747 Budget holidaymakers are currently away on holiday with the operator and another 400 were due to depart on flights over the weekend.
A helpline has been established at Budget Travel to deal with queries from customers concerned about their bookings. The number for the helpline is 01 6613122.
Speaking earlier today, liquidator Simon Coyle asked members of the public phoning the helpline to be patient.
“We currently have 20 operators assisting members of the public with their enquiries but the volume of calls is very high and we are addressing customer concerns as quickly as we can,” he said.
“The initial focus this morning is on people who would have been travelling in the next few days. We would encourage people with access to the internet to submit their claims online,” Mr Coyle added.
Budget said yesterday it currently has a bond of €11.4 million in cash lodged with the Commission for Aviation Regulation which will be used to assist holidaymakers abroad and refund any deposits or bookings made with the company which can not now be honoured.
Ms Justice Mary Laffoy was told in the High Court yesterday that Budget had made a profit of some €3.9 million for the year ending October 2008 on the basis of a profit of some €5 per passenger but was "caught off guard" by the speed and severity of the recession and had massively overestimated projected turnover for the year to October 31st last.
Passenger numbers "fell off the cliff" in the twelve months to October 31st last and Budget was left with pre-booked contracts which it could not terminate without incurring onerous penalty clauses, Bernard Dunleavy, for Budget said. This meant it was operating at an average loss of €50 per passenger.
Budget also claimed the actions of the aviation regulator in allegedly refusing to decide its application to renew its licence on November 1st last or to repay some €4 million alleged excess overpayment of its travel bond had jeopardised its business. The regulator on November 16th refused to renew the licence.
