THOUSANDS of Brits have said their holidays have been cancelled at short notice after a travel company has gone bust.

Jetline Holidays, a UK-based travel agent that launched in 2001, has ceased trading as an ATOL holder.

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Nearly 5,000 passengers are expected to have been affected, the majority being cruise holidays.

This includes Princess Cruises, Cunard and Holland America, with most being cancelled due to a “breach of contract” with Jetline.

All bookings with P&O Cruises have been transferred to them as direct bookings.

The CAA has warned: “If you are currently overseas and you hold a scheduled flight e-ticket, the flight remains valid for the return journey.

“You are advised to check-in with the airline as per the existing flight ticket.”

Anyone with a flight inclusive package has also been warned that while the flight may still be valid, other parts of the trips may not.

They added: “Other services have not been paid to the local suppliers and you will be required to re-arrange and pay for these services again.

“To avoid any issues in resort, you should confirm the cost of all the services in advance of travel where possible.”

Anyone who has a cruise-only trip booked, or one with just accommodation that doesn’t have flights included, are not protected under ATOL.

Furious passengers have said they have been left without any information.

One person wrote: “Our holiday including cruise, flights and hotels appear to has gone. Totally unable to contact Jetline.”

Another said that they were told they had “48 hours to pay again” for the holiday or they would cancel it.

The CAA added: “We understand that Jetline Travel Ltd acted as agents for other ATOL holders, these bookings are not protected under the ATOL of Jetline Travel Ltd.”

Last year FTI – one of the largest tour operators in Europe – went bust.

While based in Germany, Brits in the UK were affected, especially those with loveholidays.

UK travel agents such as loveholidays used UK-based bed bank Youtravel.com – an FTI subsidiary – to book holidays.

Some holidaymakers were told they had to pay for their holidays again and were even locked out of their rooms.

One wrote: “Currently part of a group of 30 people in my hotel. We’re all being told we will be asked to leave unless we pay £1,000 of our own money to stay.“

Another said: “I’m on holiday and have to pay £200 every night to stay in an all-inclusive hotel that I have already paid over £1.5k.”

Here’s everything you need to know about ATOL and ABTA protected holidays.

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