Apollo Travel Direct to close

Apollo Travel Direct is to close down next year with the loss of up to 150 jobs.

The Rotherham-based call centre, which offers fufilment of third-party business and is owned by The Co-operative Travel Group, will shut on April 3, 2009.

Staff have entered a consultation period, although it is hoped alternative jobs can be found for some staff in other parts of the business, such as Medinland in Sheffield, Future Travel and in the high-street shops.

Director of distribution Alistair Rowland said: “It is with the deepest regret that after a long period of careful consideration we have taken the decision to close the call centre in Rotherham.

“Fulfilment of third party business – the mainstay of Apollo’s operations - is no longer sustainable for agents, and the situation is unlikely to improve going forward.  As such, the business model of Apollo Travel Direct has become untenable.

“It is with great reluctance that we have taken the decision to cease operations, which will result in a number of redundancies.”

The Rotherham branch of Co-operative Travel Management, which shares its offices with Apollo Travel, is unaffected by the closure.

Source: TravelWeekly