Hull-based travel agency Andrew Earle’s has shut its doors as it deals with the aftermath of the collapse of airline Thomas Cook.
The business, which has branches in the city centre, Anlaby and Brough, said it would not be taking new holiday bookings with any operator until it had handled customers affected by Monday morning’s announcement.
Andrew Earle’s said its priority was ensuring all of its Thomas Cook customers currently abroad were brought back home safely.
A statement released by the business said: “In light of the sad news regarding Thomas Cook, this is a devastating blow to the travel industry and all the customers due to travel with them.
“Our priority is to ensure all our Thomas Cook customers currently oversea are repatriated back to the UK safely.
“From today and until we have dealt with all our Thomas Cook affected customers , we feel it is not right for us to take any new bookings with any operators due to our team concentrating on helping the customers we already have who need our help with their now failed travel plans.”
Thomas Cook announced on Monday it had collapsed into liquidation.
There are believed to be more than 150,000 UK holidaymakers still abroad , with the largest repatriation effort since the Second World War, currently under way.
The company also employs around 21,000 people globally, with 9,000 of those based in the UK including 1,000 at its head office in Peterborough.
Thomas Cook said earlier today: "Thomas Cook UK Plc and associated UK entities have entered compulsory liquidation and are now under the control of the official receiver.
"The UK business has ceased trading with immediate effect and all future flights and holidays are cancelled."
In response to Thomas Cook’s announcement, Andrew Earle’s released a lengthy guide on its website, as it issued advice to those affected by the closure.
It said it would be contacting its customers who were currently aboard, to ensure they can return home safely.
Andrew Earle’s said the situation was “huge and complex,” and said holidays currently booked could be affected in a number of ways.
It said the length of the holiday could be lengthened or shortened, and would update those who have trips booked with the company as soon as possible.
“Our team will also be contacting in date order of departure, all of our customers due to travel with Thomas Cook, Thomas Cook Airlines to ensure you have the correct information to make a claim for your monies under the ABTA, Atol scheme or your credit card if you made a payment via this method,” Andrew Earle’s said.
“There is also a possibility that some bookings under The Freedom Travel Group Atol facility could be affected also but we need verification from the CAA as to their stance on these bookings. We expect this later today.
Watch: Thomas Cook CEO apologises for collapse
“Please be patient with us at this difficult time we are doing our absolute best and will aim to deal with everyone as quickly possible.
“We need our phone lines to call out so if you try and call, you may not get through so please leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.”
Thomas Cook has been struggling to grapple with its mounting debt, which was reported to be £1.2bn in its half-year results.
The airline had been looking to find an investor willing to plough £200m into the company to keep it afloat, but no deal could be found.
