The 27-year-old business, which employs just fewer than 50 people, will close on 30 September after “honouring its obligations” and winding down the company. 

The company said while it remained a challenging time for the team, it remained committed to continuing to offer quality service and support during the closure period. The leadership team will remain in place until the closure and are available to respond to any queries.

No new bookings or rebookings will be accepted from today (7 July) and all bookings departing on or after 1 September 2020 are now cancelled. 

Funway said it would contact all travel agents who currently have live bookings with the operator and that all deposits or payments received on these would be refunded in full. All Refund Credit Notes will be paid in cash.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to all of our wonderful agent partners,” the company said in a statement. 

“While the Funway journey is coming to a close, we hope all of our partners emerge from this crisis and enjoy a most prosperous future.”

Nick Talbot, sales and marketing director, said: “It’s an incredibly sad day for the Funway team and our closure reflects just how severely the travel industry is being impacted by Covid-19. 

“I would like to pay testament to our truly incredible team who have demonstrated unwavering professionalism and positivity in the most challenging of times.”

Carla Van Der Giesen, vice-president and general manager, said: “I can only echo Nick’s comments. 

“The closure of Funway is a decision that has not been taken lightly. I feel privileged to have been able to lead our fantastic team that have represented the Funway brand with continuous passion and devotion.

“We are very thankful for the amazing support we received over the years from our many industry and travel agency partners. 

“We leave behind a legacy of truly memorable holidays that our team has helped create for our many customers over the course of several decades.”