Travel ban puts Hays jobs at risk
Jobs at a city travel agent have been put under threat as a result of the non-essential travel ban and quarantine requirements imposed on Spain.
Hays Travel this week announced that it has begun consulting with up to 878 employees who may be at risk of redundancy.
The travel firm took on staff from the former Thomas Cook store in Murray Place following its collapse last September.
In early July, when the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s restriction on non-essential travel lifted, the company says it was on track for recovery and holiday bookings had returned to a workable level.
However, the non-essential travel ban and quarantine requirements then re-imposed on Spain has triggered the cancellation of hundreds of thousands of holidays.
Hays Travel owners 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.”
It’s understood that one or two positions may be at risk of redundancy in some shops and no positions will be at risk in others. At this stage, the firm is unable to divulge how many roles are at risk in specific locations.