Budget Travel moves to assure travellers abroad

BUDGET TRAVEL has moved to assure holiday-makers not due back in Ireland until next week that the firm will make “alternative arrangements” for their return.

In a statement released yesterday the travel agency’s provisional liquidator, Simon Coyle of Mazars, insisted that while the company has been left in financial turmoil it will be able to help those otherwise stranded abroad to return home.

According to Mr Coyle, after meeting with the Commission for Aviation Regulation it has been agreed that all holiday-makers who are due back before the end of the weekend will be able to travel on their scheduled flights.

“Any passengers due home next week will be contacted in due course about alternative arrangements for returning to Ireland,” he said.

“They are also advised to contact their local Budget Travel or resort representative and to check the notice boards for up-to-date information,” read the statement.

Any customers who had booked for future flights are due to receive refunds which they can claim through www.aviationreg.ie.

A spokesperson for Budget Travel continued that while the company has “ample funds” to refund affected customers, a less stringent enforcement of the rules from the industry’s regulator could have allowed the travel agency to survive.