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December 1st, 2008
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Insurer returns stranded tourists

Bankrupt travel agency leaves nearly 1,000 abroad

By Markéta Hulpachová
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
August 1st, 2007 issue

The country’s largest insurer, Česká pojišťovna (ČP), has provided for the homecoming of 609 vacationers from airports in Turkey and Greece, fulfilling the bankruptcy protection claims of its client, I’m Traveling, one of the largest Czech travel agencies.
On July 24, I’m Traveling, Detur and its parent company FBSK 1907 declared bankruptcy, leaving 963 customers stranded abroad and canceling travel plans for more than 1,000 clients who had bought vacation packages from the companies.
As FBSK 1907’s insurer, ČP has taken over responsibility for the travel agencies’ clients. The company expects to return the remaining 425 vacationers from Turkey and Greece by Aug. 3. The repatriation process has been gradual because ČP does not want to cause further inconveniences to I’m Traveling customers.
“Česká pojišťovna’s goal is to minimize the disruption of people’s vacations,” said ČP spokesman Václav Bálek. “Therefore, most people are using their original flight connections.”
To enable the return of stranded customers, ČP is negotiating with the budget airline Travel Service, which stopped transporting I’m Traveling passengers when the company failed to pay for its chartered flights. Clients who had travel plans the day of the bankruptcy were only notified of the situation upon arriving at the airport.
“Travel Service could not transport two flights to Tunisia,” Travel Service spokeswoman Vlaďka Dufková told Mladá fronta Dnes July 25. “Another charter flight for 153 passengers to Turkey was essentially canceled.”
I’m Traveling customers who bought vacation packages but did not travel will receive reimbursement from ČP after six months.
Under the insurance policy, ČP is also responsible for providing accommodation for clients stranded abroad. However, it is not liable for the claims of several I’m Traveling clients in Turkey, who were forced to pay for their own accommodations prior to the bankruptcy.
“If a travel agency causes its clients to have accommodation problems but still does not announce bankruptcy, it legally excludes the insurance company from the game,” Bálek said. “If the company had filed for bankruptcy sooner, these troubles could have been avoided.”
Tunc Südogan, who co-owns I’m Traveling through FBSK 1907, could not be reached for comment.
The recent publicity has caused large travel agencies to grapple for I’m Traveling’s clientele. Several former competitors, including Fischer, Čedok and Exim Tours, have offered perks to clients whose vacation plans fell through.
“We understand the disappointment of I’m Traveling clients who were looking forward to their vacation,” said Fischer spokesman Dan Plovajko. “We want to enable them to fly to the seaside in the timeframes they originally planned.”

Markéta Hulpachová can be reached at mhulpachova@praguepost.com


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