Despite the bankruptcy of parent company Thomas Cook and the subsequent turmoil, travel company Ving claims to be selling almost as many trips as usual.
The fact that a financier of the company's travel guarantee has dropped out is downplayed.
Ving of course wants to convey that business is going on as usual, despite the turbulence in the wake of the bankruptcy of the owner company, British Thomas Cook, which has had devastating consequences for British tourists in particular.
”The absolute majority of all our flights are operating as usual,” says Ving's Head of Communications Fredrik Henriksson.
And new tourists continue to flock, with the exception of the first chaotic days in connection with Thomas Cook's bankruptcy the other week:
”"With almost two weeks into October, we have sold at almost the same level as the corresponding weeks last year," says Fredrik Henriksson.
The claim that the company would have problems financing the travel guarantee, something that Svenska Dagbladet, among others, has noted, is denied.
Of five different guarantors, one agreement expires next week, corresponding to just over half a billion kronor.
”"This is a normal process," says Henriksson, who believes there is no reason for concern.
The deadline expires on October 15th, by which time Ving must have a new financier in place.
The travel guarantee is regulated by law. A travel company may not sell package tours without the value of the trip being financially guaranteed, in this case by external financiers. The travel guarantee is intended to ensure that the traveler gets their money back in the event of bankruptcy or similar.
Even though Ving downplays the financial risks for travelers, the travel company's financially precarious situation cannot continue for much longer. A new owner is needed.
”"We are in a sales process with many interested parties," says Fredrik Henriksson without wanting to go into details.
”But it needs to happen pretty quickly,” he continues.
It is the British bankruptcy trustee who controls that process.
Source: TT
