Hays Travel will cut up to 878 jobs out of a workforce of 4,500 people, the company announced today.

Husband and wife owners John and Irene Hays said they were ‘devastated’ to be losing some of their ‘valued employees through no fault of their own’ amid the pandemic.

They continued: ‘Following the decision to ban travel to Spain and the changes in furlough conditions coming at the same time, we have had no choice.

‘We are also devastated for everyone who may lose their job and we will do all we can in consultations to help them, as we focus on retaining as many people as possible and rebuilding consumer confidence through our renowned friendly and knowledgeable customer service.’

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Hays Travel helped former Thomas Cook staff last year by taking over 550 of the collapsed company’s high street shops and offering new roles to nearly 2,000 people.

The move caused Mr and Mrs Hays to be labelled ‘heroes of the high street’ as they strived to keep the public’s ‘favourite shops open with the same lovely people’.

At the time, they said: ‘The colleagues we have now welcomed into the Hays Travel family are really keen to get back to finding everyone the holiday of their dreams as soon as possible.’

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