Barrhead president Jacqueline Dobson has said the agency needed to become “leaner” following the pandemic despite it undertaking the largest expansion drive in its history at the start of 2020.

Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association, called for a dialogue with Glasgow-based Barrhead, the Scottish government and Westminster to “step up and save jobs”.

Cortes said: “I appeal to Barrhead Travel to work with us to save jobs and not throw the baby out with the bathwater. We need to come together with the Scottish government to agree a plan for our travel trade, which will not only prevent job losses at Barrhead but across the sector.

“High streets in Scotland are beginning to open and there will be a hunger to make holiday plans. I recognise how hard the coronavirus crisis has been for our travel trade and our members, right across Britain.

“However, we can all find a positive way forward if Holyrood is prepared to step up and save jobs – while setting a good example to ministers in London.”