Travel agents set for uncertain summer

Travel agents across the Midlands are bracing themselves for a drop in summer holiday bookings with disruption caused by the volcanic ash cloud putting people off taking to the skies.

Some holidaymakers in the region are refusing to commit to flights with uncertainty over whether British airspace will be open when they travel, while many families are still feeling the pinch from the economic downturn, with bookings for July and August much lower than expected.

Birmingham Airport faced more chaos last Sunday when it was forced to close to passengers for six hours after the ash cloud returned, while a six-day closure last month is believed to have cost the airport £1.8 million in lost revenue.

Holiday firms are now starting to pay the price as well with holidaymakers reluctant to book flights in case they are cancelled.

Davinder Chopra, of Travel My World in West Bromwich, says customers had not been booking flights for July and August, which they would normally have done so by now.

"There is a lot of uncertainty," he added.

Judy Beardsmore, a travel consultant at Ken Towe travel based in Station Street, Walsall, said: "People are a bit wary because British Airways are striking, there are issues in Bangkok and Greece, and the volcano. Wherever you go there might be a problem."

Kim Greatrex, of Thompson, in Queen Street, Wolverhampton, said sales had remained good but customers had been asking about insurance policies and contingency plans.