The Civil Aviation Authority has announced that it has called the £1.3 million bond of London-based student travel specialist Usit Campus Limited, which has ceased trading.
Usit operated both flights and air packages and also traded as Edinburgh Travel Centre. Its air customers are all protected by ATOL.
The CAA has issued the following advice for Usit customers:
All customers abroad will be able to complete their holidays and fly home as planned.
Customers who booked scheduled flights without accommodation and have received their air tickets will be able to travel as planned. They should contact their airline if they require further information.
Most airlines have provided guarantees to the CAA so that they will honour flight-only bookings even where tickets have not been issued. Customers who have not yet received tickets should contact their airline first, but in the event of problems they can contact the CAA at the number below.
Where customers booked an air-inclusive holiday –
If they have scheduled airline tickets issued by Usit they can still travel, but they should be aware that they may need to pay again for accommodation or other facilities that were part of the package. They will be able to claim a refund for these costs, up to the total paid in advance for accommodation, from the CAA on their return.
If they have not been sent any tickets, they will be able to claim a refund from the CAA – claim forms will be sent out shortly.
All non-flight packages and services sold by Usit are protected by insurance. Customers should contact Ashbourne Tilley Special Risks on 020 7481 8239.
AUU Trading Company Limited, a subsidiary of Usit with offices in Leeds, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, sold flights and package holidays as a travel agent for other ATOL holders. Customers who booked with this firm and hold invoices naming another ATOL holder may still be able to travel, but they should contact the named tour operator as soon as possible.
The CAA’s Consumer Protection Group will be dealing with ATOL bond claims and will be dealing with any queries during office hours on 020 7453 6350.
Notes:
In the last five years, ATOL has managed 115 tour operator failures, rescuing 53,000 people from being stranded and giving refunds to a further 139,000 people at a total cost of £34 million.
Further information about ATOL is available on the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk.
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