Lapland flights cancelled

The Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) today refused to renew the Tour Operators Licence of United Travel and has called on the company to wind down it's business and refund it's customers. United Travel had taken bookings from 1,100 people hoping to travel on the traditional pre Christmas charters to Finland. Con Murphy of United Travel appeared on Joe Duffy's Liveline program on RTE Radio 1 yesterday, begging the CAR to issue him with a licence. The Commissioner for Aviation Regulation Cathal Guiomard also appeared on the program and announced that as early as October he had informed United Travel that it's licence would not be renewed, adding that "I don't want to be the Grinch who has several customers in Lapland on Christmas Eve and no aircraft to get them home". Today the CAR urged customers to contact United Travel to enquire as to the status of any money paid over to date and also as to how the company intended to make refunds or put alternative arrangements in place.