One of Britain’s longest established travel agencies has ceased trading after more than five decades, with the Ickenham Travel collapse into administration leaving customers facing uncertainty over bookings and refunds.
The Civil Aviation Authority formally announced on 20 November 2025 that Ickenham Travel Group had stopped trading as an ATOL licence holder, ending a Business that had begun as a single shop on Ickenham High Street in Greater London in 1970. Founded by Peter Reglar, the company had grown steadily over the following decades, expanding into branches across Hillingdon, Northwood, Harrow and Rickmansworth and building a reputation for curated package holidays and long haul deals.
The Ickenham Travel collapse came as a shock because the company appeared to be actively trading at the time it went under. The group operated under multiple brand names and websites including Abu Dhabi Holidays, Ras Al Khaimah Holidays and Letsgo2, which meant many customers had no idea they were booking with the same company. That multi brand structure, while commercially useful during growth periods, created significant confusion once the collapse was announced, as customers struggled to work out which entity was responsible for their booking and what protection applied.
The CAA moved quickly to guide customers through the aftermath. Those who were already abroad at the time of the collapse were told their return flights remained valid and were advised to check in with their airline as normal. Customers whose holidays had not yet begun were offered two options: claim a full refund if they did not wish to travel, or use their original flights and claim for any replacement accommodation or transfers they needed to book. All affected customers have until 19 November 2026 to submit claims through the official ATOL claims system.
Several factors appear to have driven the Ickenham Travel administration. Rising operational costs and inflation had squeezed margins across the travel industry for some time, while shifting consumer behaviour, particularly the trend toward booking directly with airlines and hotels online, had reduced demand for traditional agencies. Competition from larger digital platforms offering AI powered search and mobile first experiences made it increasingly difficult for a legacy operator like Ickenham to hold onto its customer base. Fixed costs associated with maintaining physical branches and older systems added further pressure to an already stretched operation.
The collapse was not an isolated event. Multiple UK travel businesses had encountered serious difficulties in the same period, reflecting how unforgiving the sector had become even for companies with long histories and established reputations. The lesson for consumers was clear: always check whether a booking is ATOL protected, keep all receipts and confirmation documents, and never assume that longevity in business is a guarantee of financial stability.