News / Tributes as travel agents close
TRIBUTES have been made after Shetland’s only independent travel agent announced it was closing its doors after 75 years, with the loss of seven jobs.
John Leask & Son began life as a transport operator in 1919, opening its travel agency in Lerwick in 1936 with the arrival of the first air service to the islands run by Allied Airways.
However this week Peter Leask, the grandson of the company’s founder who runs the business with his brother Andrew, said that after trying to sell the agency as a going concern for more than a year they are finally calling it a day.
As a result four full time and three part time staff will lose their jobs as the company shifts its entire operation to the Gremista depot from where it runs a bus service that employs almost 40 people.
The travel agency will continue operating until the end of the year and all existing bookings that have been made will be honoured. The two floor premises on Lerwick’s Esplanade will be put up for sale.
John Leask & Son was one of the few remaining independent travel agencies in Scotland, managing to hold out against the advance of online booking longer than most.
Mr Leask, who joined the family business in 1972, said it was the end of an era, but they had no choice but to bow to the inevitable.
“It’s not an easy trade to be in these days. It’s difficult to remain competitive with the other avenues for booking travel in the modern age,” he said.
“Both my brother and I are in our 60s and it was time to start looking at the future.”
Business has tailed off as airlines and tour operators have started to sell directly to customers via the internet. Travel agents have also lost all commission on sales, having to charge a handling fee instead, making it even tougher to survive.
“I would say that we have done better than a lot of travel agents, but there has been a declining volume of business for a year or two now. We have worked on it as best we could, but I think now is the right time to make a decision.”
Allan Wishart, acting chairman of Shetland transport partnership ZetTrans, said some local people who did not use the internet would be likely to suffer as a result of the loss.
“It’s disappointing to see a local service close its doors due to a lack of business,” he said. “It’s not due to a lack of people travelling, it’s because the whole method of making bookings has gone digital.
“Nevertheless I think a number of people would rely on the local travel agent service, so and I am disappointed, but I completely understand why they are doing it.”
Loganair were swift to respond to the news, sending their sympathies to the company and the staff and commending their “tremendous integrity” for honouring existing bookings and urging people to still use the service until 31 December.
Chief operating officer Jonathan Hinkles said: “Loganair offers its heart-felt thanks and best wishes to Peter Leask and his team for the future.”
He added that the hospital visitor fares service would continue to be available through the Loganair Air Discount Scheme helpline on 0844 800 2855.
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