AITO city break specialist has collapsed after 20 years in business
AITO-member Cities Direct has collapsed after 20 years.
The Cheltenham-based business also operated under the names City Breaks Direct, European city breaks, Holiday Gifts Direct, Low cost city breaks and Rome Direct.
A message on its website reads: "The Board of Directors is sad to report that Cities Direct ceased trading on Monday 7 September 2020.
"The business started in September 2000, and we have had an incredible 20 years developing and growing Cities Direct in an ever-evolving industry.
"We have very much enjoyed the experience, and would like to thank our staff, travel industry partners and many loyal customers for all their support over the years.
"We had so many exciting plans for the future of the business, but the impact of COVID 19 travel restrictions has been devastating. We are sorry if your Cities Direct booking is affected."
It provides further information for customers claiming refunds, saying that most of its holidays were ATOL-protected flight-based packages.
Cities Direct also had ‘a small number’ of rail and ferry packages, as well as single-element bookings which, it says, are insured by IPP.
The CAA said it is currently collating information from the company and will update its page ‘as soon as possible’.
"If you are a travel agent of Cities Direct Ltd and you are currently holding consumer payments which you have not yet paid to Cities Direct Ltd, you are advised not to refund consumers with these funds until you have received instructions from the Air Travel Trust," it said.
"Travel agents will be individually contacted by the CAA with specific instructions for these bookings."
By Linsey McNeill, Editor (UK)
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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