A Moray coach operator has warned the industry remains on the brink of collapse after the Treasury ruled out a dedicated support package for the sector.
Travel firms across the country have united to call for government backing to help businesses survive a summer devastated by cancelled bookings.
Kevin Mayne, operations director of Buckie-based Maynes Coaches, has revealed estimates placed just 2% of vehicles nationwide on the road, while industry leaders Shearings and David Urquhart have collapsed.
Yesterday the coach operator, who also has depots in Elgin and Orkney, warned further firms remain in a battle to survive due to the relaxation of lockdown restriction so far providing little opportunity for business to return to normal.
Treasury minister Jesse Norman has ruled out a dedicated rescue package for the sector – instead saying that “general support” for the economy will help.
Mr Mayne said: “The problem is that everything we were due to do now has been cancelled and it will take months for it to fill up until people start planning trips again.
“We’ve been on the go for 73 years but this is affecting previously successful family companies that have been running even longer.
“We’re trying to remain flexible. We have a booking for a 16-seat minibus to play golf later this year.
“If the social distancing rules are still in force, we’ll put on a coach just to keep the booking.”
Mr Mayne revealed his firm had also established a Maynes Holidays offshoot with trips from the north-east across the UK and Ireland in order to plug the gap in lost bookings.
Meanwhile, Inverness-based D & E Coaches have provisionally accepted their first post-lockdown bookings, with the wheels due to start turning again in September.
Transport director Gayle McEwan said: “A switch to one-metre social distancing will be a big help.
“But we’ve done our research and spent on initiatives to ensure we’ve the best cleaning and safety methods in place to instil customer confidence.”
Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “Even with employees furloughed, companies continued to face many large fixed costs.
“A single coach sitting idle was costing the operators, on average, £250 a day.
“This is why it is crucial we look at all options to support local firms and the wider industry right across the UK.”
