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Failed agent was criticised online
Essex-based online agent, Ola Holidays, has ceased trading with 500 customers overseas.
The online travel company, based in Loughton, Essex, also had around 2,000 forward bookings.
The Civil Aviation Authority is now in talks with hotels and accommodation suppliers in a bid to protect the holidays of the customers affected.
A spokesman said all flights were with low-cost airlines and tickets were still valid.
The CAA hopes to have an update for customers later today.
Antony Batty and Company, based in London and Brentwood, Essex, have been appointed adminstrators.
Ola Holidays is believed to have had around 30 staff and specialised in holidays to the Mediterranean.
It had been criticised on various online forums by disgruntled customers, who accused the operator of bad customer service and of failing to provide the holidays promised.
Some of the complaints dated back to 2009.
The company’s website has now been closed down but its Facebook page remains viewable.
It says it sold package holidays and hotel-only holidays, including Europe, North Africa and selected long haul destinations, but mainly Spain and its Islands. Its slogan was "Travel with a Smile".
Ola’s Twitter page shows it had recently added city breaks to its portfolio.
The CAA said anyone who is currently abroad on a holiday booked with Ola will have tickets for their flight home. These are still valid and people should check-in as normal.
"The CAA is working with accommodation providers to make sure all affected customers can remain in their accommodation. If for any reason customers are required to pay again for their accommodation, they can make a claim for a refund through the ATOL scheme," it said.
The CAA will issue advice for customers with bookings for travel in the future in the next 24 hours.
Anyone who is travelling on an Ola booking in the next 24 hours can contact the CAA on 0844 5717 260.
Customers with bookings in the future should not make alternative arrangements before the CAA issues further advice.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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