STA Travel has become the latest travel company to fall victim to the pandemic.
STA Travel has announced that it has collapsed and will close all stores with immediate effect.
The company said the coronavirus has brought the travel industry to a “standstill” leaving it with no choice but to close its doors for the last time.
In a statement on its website, STA Travel said anyone with a booking would receive “further communication in the coming days”.
“Unfortunately our travel experts are unable to assist you at this time,” it adds.
A spokesperson for Abta, the trade association for the UK travel industry, assured British customers that most trips booked through STA are protected.
“The majority of holidays sold were flight-inclusive packages, which are protected by Atol, and scheduled airline tickets only, which should proceed as normal. Non-flight based packages will be protected by Abta.
“If customers booked a package holiday through STA Travel, and the holiday is provided by another tour operator, they will need to contact the tour operator, who should be able to confirm that their booking will go ahead as normal.”
The company was founded by two Australian backpackers in Melbourne in 1979 and originally stood for Student Travel Australia. It was later rebranded to become Student Travel Association, and subsequently Start The Adventure.
Known for its budget round-the-world tickets, countless students over the last few decades would book gap years and summer breaks through the company.
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