Thousands of customers could be left out of pocket following the collapse of Brighton-based Turkey specialist Holidays 4U yesterday.
The Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that around 60,000 holidaymakers will be hit by the failure of the company, which also traded as Aegean Flights.
Some 12,800 people were abroad with the tour operator when it announced it had gone into administration and the company had taken a further 20,000 bookings, with an average of three passengers for each one.
The CAA confirmed that all flights and packages sold by the operator will be protected under its ATOL, but customers who bought flight-only deals will not be refunded for the accommodation they bought separately.
"We don't know what proportion of the company's forward bookings were flight only, but it could be a significant number," said a CAA spokesman.
The CAA said those who are abroad at the moment will be allowed to continue their holidays and fly home as planned and they should check-in at the airport as usual. If flight times have changed, these will be posted on the CAA website www.caa.co.uk.
All future departures to Turkey have been cancelled.
Passengers who have booked packages or charter flights through Holidays 4U should make a claim for a refund through the CAA.
PwC have been appointed as administrators by Holidays 4U, which blamed 'difficulties faced by the travel industry in 2010 and 2011' for its collapse. The company, which has a turnover of £35m, said it was no longer able to continue trading. Up to 18 members of staff have lost their jobs.
By Linsey McNeill
