Up to 20,000 Scots tourists have been hit after the second travel firm in as many weeks collapsed.

Up to 20,000 Scots tourists have been hit after the second travel firm in as many weeks collapsed.

Some 2500 holidaymakers abroad and about 18,000 who have made advance bookings have been affected after budget package holiday firm Seguro Holidays, which has its main base at Prestwick Airport in Ayrshire, announced yesterday that it had stopped trading.

The announcement follows the suspension on August 28 of all operations of transatlantic budget carrier Zoom Airlines, which was owned by Scottish travel entrepreneurs John and Hugh Boyle.

All Seguro customers abroad will be able to complete their holidays while those with forward bookings will be refunded because the company was a member of a scheme run by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Seguro, which began operating in 1991 and had its headquarters in Macclesfield, Cheshire, blamed the cash troubles of Spanish airline Futura, which supplied 80% of its flights.

The Majorca-based airline had its operating licence suspended last Sunday by Spanish aviation chiefs and launched insolvency proceedings the following day blaming high fuel costs. Zoom also blamed high fuel costs for its demise.

The collapse of Seguro is a blow for Prestwick Airport where it has operated since 1998, and last year accounted for almost one in 20 of its passengers.

It was the airport's biggest charter operator, taking 70,000 passengers abroad in the past year to six resorts in Portugal, Spain and the Canary Islands. It has also carried about 5000 passengers from Kent International Airport, at Manston since 2006.In a statement released by Seguro yesterday, directors Rachel Elliott and Richard Burke said: "Futura's collapse was totally unexpected as an airline with over 30 planes, having a good reputation and being one of Spain's respected airlines.

"After 10 years flying from Glasgow Prestwick Airport and great support from travel agents and clients, we offer our sincere apologies and are very sad to have had to make this decision, but we were left with no alternative."

The firm's website was taken offline and was replaced by a statement: "Seguro Travel Limited and its subsidiary Seguro Aviation Limited which trade under the style Seguro Holidays and Kent Escapes ceased trading on September 10, 2008.

"Customers who have booked to travel by air from September 10 onwards should refer to the Civil Aviation Authority website (www.atol.org.uk) where further advice is given.

"The directors of the company deeply regret the closure of the business."

A CAA spokesman said administrators had not yet been appointed to take charge of Seguro's affairs. A statement from the CAA said it had been called in to protect customers booked with the company.

The statement went on: "The CAA, under its ATOL (Air Travel Organiser's Licensing) scheme, is making arrangements for customers abroad to complete their holidays and return to the UK and to refund fully those with forward bookings."

It said all holidays with the firm had been cancelled.

A spokesman for Prestwick Airport said: "Naturally we are very disappointed by this development as Seguro has been a successful operator here at Glasgow Prestwick for 10 years, where they have built a very loyal customer base, and we have had a strong working relationship with them. "

The collapse of Zoom, which was not Atol protected, affected around 40,000 customers and led to thousands of passengers being stranded on both sides of the Atlantic. Administrators warned thousands of customers not to expect their money back.

Rochelle Turner, from the consumer magazine Which? Holiday, said: "People booking holidays in future should always pay with their credit card so if a similar situation happens they will be covered, and ensure that the agent they have booked through is covered by the ATOL bond."