Sterling has filed for bankruptcy and has no funds available to offer refunds to its ticket holders.

Customers who booked their flights through an ABTA registered Travel Agents will be fully protected, but independent travellers will not be protected unless they have taken out a scheduled airline financial insurance policy.

ABTA have warned that with numerous airline failures already this year, it is important to have insurance in place, or best still to book flights and holidays through an ABTA registered agent.