Asiara UK Ltd, a UK-based travel company specialising in tours and flights to Asia, has abruptly shut down, leaving customers stranded with cancelled bookings. This closure follows months of financial instability and a gradual winding down of operations. The company’s dissolution has raised questions about consumer protection and the future of other similar travel agencies.
The Sudden Closure of Asiara UK Ltd
Asiara UK Ltd, once a well-regarded travel operator providing bespoke tours to countries such as Thailand, China, India, Japan, and Singapore, has ceased trading. According to The Herald Scotland, this unexpected shutdown has affected all customers who had bookings with the company, with flights and tours now cancelled. Asiara UK Ltd had only recently expanded its operations in 2022, following the rebranding of its earlier iteration, Haivenu Tours. The company had operated under the protections of an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL), a scheme designed to safeguard customers’ funds when a company collapses.
The company had its status as an ATOL holder removed in January 2026, marking the official end of its operations. Asiara UK Ltd’s registration was struck off the Companies House register on January 6, 2026, before its formal dissolution on January 13, 2026. The closure came as a shock to many, as the company had once enjoyed a solid reputation in the niche market of luxury and tailor-made tours.
ATOL Protection: What Does It Mean for Affected Customers?
Asiara UK Ltd’s closure means that all bookings made with the company, whether for flights or tours, have been cancelled. However, customers are not left without recourse. Thanks to the ATOL protection scheme, travellers who had booked their trips are entitled to a refund. This government-backed scheme guarantees that customers who have paid for their holidays in advance will not lose their money in the event of a company collapse.
The Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL) is a key feature of the UK’s travel industry, ensuring that companies like Asiara UK Ltd operate within legal financial safety nets. According to the ATOL website, affected consumers can rely on this scheme to recover their funds, which provides reassurance to those left in limbo by the cancellation of their flights and tours.
The PTS website says members offer protection “from the moment you book to the minute you arrive home”. It continues:
“Every Protected Trust Services (PTS) Member shares our mission to keep consumers safe. So whether you’re booking a weekend away or a round-the-world cruise, a staycation or the overseas trip of a lifetime, your money is fully protected.”
As Asiara UK Ltd was affiliated with Protected Trust Services (PTS), this protection will apply to all affected bookings, ensuring that customers’ financial losses are mitigated, even as they face the cancellation of their travel plans.
The Rise of Travel Agency Closures
Asiara UK Ltd is not the only travel company to have closed down in recent months. A number of travel firms in the UK have faced similar fates, including Regen Central Ltd, Gold Crest Holidays, and Simply Florida Travel Ltd. In fact, the ATOL website notes that several other companies, such as Ickenham Travel Group Ltd and Jetline Travel Ltd, ceased operations in 2025, leaving many customers without services they had already paid for.
The frequency of such closures has raised concerns about the stability of smaller travel firms and the increasing pressure they face in a competitive market. These closures often happen with little warning, leaving customers scrambling to find alternative arrangements, and often relying on their rights under the ATOL scheme to recover funds. The rise in the number of bankruptcies within the industry highlights the vulnerabilities in the current landscape of travel and tourism.
What Can Customers Do?
If you are among the affected customers of Asiara UK Ltd, there are steps you can take to secure a refund. Customers should contact Protected Trust Services (PTS) directly for assistance. The ATOL website recommends emailing [email protected] for further guidance on how to proceed with reclaiming funds.
For those seeking alternative travel arrangements, it is crucial to explore new options as soon as possible, as the travel landscape continues to evolve. With the ever-changing dynamics of the travel industry, it is advisable to book with companies that offer strong consumer protection schemes like ATOL or PTS to avoid unexpected disruptions to your travel plans.
