Edwards restarts holidays after £12m revenue loss

Glamorgan-based Edwards Coach Holidays is restarting its holiday programme on 17 May 2021 after eight months of not running them due to the pandemic.

With over 300 coaches parked in the depot due to the travel restrictions, the operator has suffered a loss of holiday revenue amounting to approximately £12 million.

Edwards has seen a boom in  UK and European coach holiday sales with many customers booking multiple trips throughout 2021. Edwards has introduced a robust safety procedure called ‘It’s good to be back’ to ensure their holiday programme runs compliant with the very latest guidelines and Covid-19 restrictions. A brief return to travel was tried and tested by Edwards in 2020 and the operator reports this has helped to build customer confidence.

“17 May is going to be a momentous day” – Jason Edwards, Edwards Coaches Managing Director

Edwards Coaches Managing Director, Jason Edwards, said: “Edwards has remained open throughout the Covid–19 pandemic, keeping in constant contact with our loyal customers and refunding some £1.2 million passengers cancelled holidays without hesitation. 17 May is going to be a momentous day with the restart of our holiday programme and many locally employed staff returning to work to do what they do best.

“Our business, its staff and customers have had a torrid time over the last year. Finally the time has come to put it all behind us and look forward to a very bright future.”

In June 2020, Edwards Coach Holidays refunded £1.2 million to its holiday customers and transferred over 3,000 customer holidays. It reduced prices for 2021 bookings in October last year and in December launched its 2021 holiday supplement, which includes over 50 new tours.