A spate of high-profile bankruptcies occurred within weeks of each other this fall, leaving companies that sell vacation packages and tours in trouble at a time when many consumers are postponing discretionary travel spending.
UK tour operators Great Little Escapes and Jetline both closed operations within weeks of summer 2025, while Reykjavik-based Tango Travel was unable to withstand the closure of Play Airlines at the end of September. The holiday company closed its operations a month later in a domino effect as most of its travel packages included flights with the now-defunct airline.
In November, British travel company New Era Travel also had to tell customers that it was closing and entering liquidation.
According to reports, the closure of travel agencies recently occurred in the Swiss city of Geneva.
According to local media Study Travel Magazine, AILS Sejours Linguistiques ceased trading in November and filed for bankruptcy with the Geneva Cantonal Court of First Instance.
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The travel company, which has offices in Switzerland and France, organizes student exchange and language study trips to countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia.
A managing partner from Australia told Study Travel magazine anonymously that some students who had booked trips for the next few months were desperately trying to get information about the company’s status.
Individual students and schools have booked trips abroad through the company as part of their education plans back home.
“We are dealing with some very distressed students who discovered through Didi messages that the AILS institution appears to have closed,” the general manager told the media. “They’ve closed down and owe the school a lot of money.”
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great little escape: The British travel company filed for bankruptcy after losing 77,000 pounds ($103,000).
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United Travel Kraft: The Budapest-based travel agency blamed “the entry of new foreign companies[ing] Hungary has huge financial resources,” but due to its financial collapse, the country had to suddenly cancel some tours that were already halfway underway.
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Meeks Travel: The Malmö-based travel company was forced to cancel tours and cease operations after being declared bankrupt by a judge. August 2025.
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tango tourism: Iceland travel agency goes bankrupt November 2025 Key partner Play Airlines filed for bankruptcy a month ago and ceased operations.
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New Era Travel: Stop operating November 2025. The Hampshire-based travel agency takes British tourists to destinations including Spain, Australia and Las Vegas.
AILS could not be reached for comment and, according to its general manager, the company did not return calls asking about students’ travel status.
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“The nature of this closure adds significantly to the suffering of our students,” he further explained.
“The agency has not had any communication with the school or its clients and an otherwise manageable situation has been further exacerbated by the company’s complete lack of contact in the month since the bankruptcy notice appeared to have been issued.”
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This article was originally published by TheStreet on December 10, 2025, and first appeared in the Travel section. Click here to add TheStreet as your preferred source.