More than 3,600 customers hit by collapse of six travel firms during Covid-19 pandemic     

Commission for Aviation Regulation had to apply to the Department of Transport last year for €1.4m to top up the fund established to compensate holidaymakers in the event of travel firms going out of business

CAR commissioner Cathy Mannion said cash reserves in the Travellers’ Protection Fund would have been insufficient to compensate all claimants arising out of travel agents which collapsed last year.

More than 3,600 customers have been affected by the collapse of six travel agents in Ireland since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR).

The regulator said it had to apply to the Department of Transport last year for €1.4m to top up the fund established to compensate holidaymakers in the event of travel firms going out of business.