SLG, who operated several businesses that sold holidays and other travel arrangements including Shearings Holidays and National Holidays, entered into administration on the 22 May citing the impact of COVID 19. The group have also advised that 44 UK hotels under their control, will close and not re-open.

Over 2,500 jobs have been lost as a result.

The SLG group had already furloughed the overwhelming majority of their staff before last week’s news as the group were hit massively by the travel restrictions imposed by the government in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

SLG’s various groups primarily specialised in UK based holidays. Their trips were aimed at the over 50s and retired people who enjoyed the variety of locations and the convenience of taking the coach rather than having to drive.

According to ABTA, The UK travel trade association for tour operators and travel agents, the majority of customers will be able to get a refund. In a statement releases on their website, ABTA stated: (1)

The Group (SLG) had over 64,000 bookings, the vast majority of which were coach package holidays. All package holiday bookings are financially protected so customers with these bookings will receive a full refund, with coach packages protected by the Confederation of Passenger Transport. Shearings also offered a small number of flight package holidays which are ATOL protected and will be processed by the CAA.

The news came in another devastating week for the travel and aviation industry. Rolls Royce confirmed that 9,000 jobs, almost one fifth of their workforce, would be lost with 8000 of the 9000 cuts coming in the civil aerospace division.

One glimmer of light was provided by Easyjet who, in the same week, announced that they would resume some flights from June 15. Easyjet will fly between UK airports Gatwick, Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Belfast. (2)

(1) https://www.abta.com/news/specialist-leisure-group-which-includes-leading-coach-companies-shearings-and-national
(2) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52751791