Spain travel ban blamed as Hays announces almost 900 jobs will go

Hays Travel is consulting with nearly 900 staff who face redundancy following the downturn in bookings and mass cancellations as a result of the government’s travel ban to Spain.

The agency issued a statement to say it has made ‘every possible effort’ to protect the jobs of its 4,500 staff since the pandemic hit UK travel and believed at the beginning of July that the company was on track for recovery.

However, ‘the non-essential travel ban and quarantine requirements imposed on Spain just nine days ago have triggered the cancellation of hundreds of thousands of holidays’, Hays said.

Hays will consult with 344 trainee agents and 534 foreign exchange staff.

The announcement comes less than six weeks after Hays launched a recruitment drive and restarted its apprenticeship programme.

Three weeks ago, co-founder Irene Hays told TravelMole bookings were picking up.

In a statement, John and Irene Hays said:"There is a very strong latent demand for holidays and we know people will be booking holidays again as soon as they are able to do so. 

"We have our retail staff continuing to look after customers who are rebooking, booking for next year, or requiring refunds, but no work for some sections of the business, and sadly, since the decision to ban travel to Spain, that is no longer sustainable.

"The company has had no significant redundancies in its 40-year existence.  We are now consulting with 344 colleagues who are training as travel consultants and 534 who work in the foreign exchange division.  Our experienced travel sales staff, apprentices and other head office staff are not affected.

"We are devastated that after all of our efforts and the huge investment we’ve made we now face losing some of our valued employees, through no fault of their own. Following the decision to ban travel to Spain and the changes in furlough conditions coming at the same time, we have had no choice.

"We are also devastated for everyone who may lose their job and we will do all we can in consultations to help them, as we focus on retaining as many people as possible and rebuilding consumer confidence through our renowned friendly and knowledgeable customer service."

Last week, John Hays told Newcastle’s ChronicleLive: "It’s been a nightmare. We have done better than most but I think the pandemic has damaged every travel business in the world.

"We had hit some small milestones at the start of July and a week ago had got back up to 50% of like-for-like sales, with more people making bookings and booking for later in the year or next year – then the world changed again when the government brought in the quarantine roles. What it has done is knocked that consumer confidence to go away.

"All those figures, in terms of new business, are now way less than half what we did a week ago."

Hays Travel has a 24-month plan in place, which includes a new venture in Glasgow where recruitment for 100 experienced staff for Hays Travel’s tour operation will continue to support the changes to the company’s business model.

By Lisa James, Deputy Editor (UK)