Company 'buys out' part of bust UK travel agent as customers fight for refunds (2025)

Jetline Travel went into administration - it is unclear how many people have been impacted but it is likely to be in the thousands with the British firm having a 25-year history

A company has reportedly bought out parts of the collapsed travel agent Jetline Travel.

Customers were left reeling as Jetline Travel, a British travel firm with 25 years of history, collapsed into administration late last month. The company's downfall came just one month after losing its ATOL protection, leaving holidaymakers without the safeguard against potential issues.

The scale of the impact remains uncertain, but it could affect thousands. With an ATOL license for nearly 5,000 passengers, reports suggest that up to 800 customers may now face holiday cancellations.

Now Travel Weekly is reporting that London-based tour operator Travelodeal has acquired “specific assets” from the failed Atol holder. A spokesperson for Travelodeal said it had taken over assets including customer and marketing databases, website domains and content, as well as the Jetline Holidays and Jetline Cruise brand intellectual property.

However, it has not "taken over any existing bookings or obligations,” the spokesperson said. They added that the company was “happy to help” affected customers where possible, although they do not appear legally obligated to do so.

Travelodeal managing director Mazdiyar Daruwala said: “The acquisition of the Jetline brand and customer base aligns perfectly with our vision to lead the UK market in tailor-made holidays, escorted tours and cruises.”

Earlier this month one particularly distressed customer reached out to the Mirror, sharing their story: "Myself and three others have been affected by Jetline Travel going into administration," they said.

"We had a package holiday booked for a cruise and stay in Hawaii and are in the process of trying to claim our money back. I am extremely disappointed as this was a special holiday for my 60th birthday and will have to wait until next year now before I can celebrate."

Another customer lamented: "Our holiday including cruise, flights and hotels appear to has gone. Totally unable to contact Jetline."

Insolvency professionals Alan Clark from Carter Clark and Neil Bennett from Leonard Curtis stepped in on 28 March as administrators, following Jetline’s tumble into administration.

Despite registering a healthy £28.1 million turnover and a £655,000 operating profit in 2023, according to TTG, Jetline Travel's demise in March as an ATOL operator left around 5,000 customers, mostly booked on cruises, in limbo.

Jetline customers were left in the lurch as a slew of their cruise bookings with Princess, Cunard, and Holland America got axed due to a 'breach of contract'. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said in early March: "If you are currently overseas and you hold a scheduled flight e-ticket, the flight remains valid for the return journey. You are advised to check-in with the airline as per the existing flight ticket. We are currently collating information from the company, and we will update this page shortly with instructions for Jetline Travel Ltd ATOL protected bookings on how to make a claim."