**Balkan Holidays Ceases Trading and Cancels All Future Holidays With Immediate Effect**
In a significant blow to the UK travel sector, holiday firm Balkan Holidays has announced an immediate cessation of all business operations and the cancellation of every future holiday booking. The abrupt announcement, made on 24th April 2025, leaves scores of holidaymakers in a state of uncertainty and thousands more facing cancelled summer plans.
In a statement supplied to the press, the company confirmed its closure, saying: “We regret to inform you that Balkan Holidays Ltd has as of 24th of April 2025, closed for business in the UK.” The company sought to reassure customers who are currently abroad on Balkan Holidays trips, clarifying, “Clients currently on holiday will be unaffected.” According to the statement, the firm remains solvent but has nonetheless ceased trading and will not honour any forward bookings. The company promises that all customers with upcoming holidays will receive notification and a full refund in due course, though they urged patience during the processing period.
The travel operator further advised that upcoming bookings, particularly those scheduled to depart before 1st June, will be managed by Trafalgar Travel. In a move to prevent further disruption, Balkan Holidays aims to facilitate a smooth transfer of bookings to their industry peer. Charlie Coyle, a manager at the firm, acknowledged the difficulties this development poses to both staff and clients: “As you can imagine this has been very difficult for staff at this time, however we all remain 100% committed to ensuring a very smooth transfer of bookings to another agency.”
Customers who made their bookings directly with Balkan Holidays are being urged to contact the operator by email via [email protected] to begin the process of reclaiming their payments. Those who made reservations through third-party travel agents are advised to contact the agent directly to arrange their refund, with priority given to bookings due for imminent departure in an attempt to minimise the impact on travellers’ plans.
The reaction from disappointed consumers has been swift, with many taking to social media to share their frustrations and express sympathy for the staff involved. Several shared nostalgic recollections of past holidays, while others expressed shock and distress at the late notice, with one affected customer lamenting, “Absolutely devastated – we WERE going in 36 days time! How are we meant to book anywhere now at this notice?” Such comments highlight both the personal and practical challenges faced by those whose travel arrangements have been overturned.
Industry figures have also responded to the news, describing the closure as a “heartbreaking” loss for the sector. Gary Lewis, chief executive of The Travel Network Group, remarked to Travel Weekly, “It’s sad for the industry to see the loss of a strong specialist operator. The fact that they have taken responsible action to close their doors while still solvent to ensure partners do not lose money is really commendable.” His comments reflect a note of respect for the company’s decision to protect suppliers and partners from financial loss, despite the overall disappointment.
Balkan Holidays, which had established a strong reputation for operating package holidays to destinations across the Balkans—namely Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Malta and Northern Cyprus—had been a familiar name to British holidaymakers. At its height, the award-winning company served as many as 130,000 customers in just a year, and was known for offering departures from 17 UK airports, more than any other tour operator in the country.
This closure comes on the heels of last month’s demise of Jetline Holidays, which itself affected some 5,000 travellers, signalling a period of consolidation and difficulty within the package holiday industry. The loss of another established operator is sure to prompt further concern among both travellers and those working in the sector.
Balkan Holidays’ legacy as a long-standing and trusted travel provider means their absence will be keenly felt, not just by regular customers but also by industry peers. The company’s statement ends with a note of gratitude: “Thank you for your past business and please accept our most sincere apologies for the disappointment and inconvenience.”
With demand for summer holidays remaining high, many travellers will now be scrambling to find alternative arrangements, adding yet further complexity to an already challenging travel landscape. The industry is no stranger to rapid change, but the impact of this closure is likely to reverberate for some time to come.