Insolvency shock for young travelers: Aby GmbH is about to go out!

Insolvency shock for young travelers: Aby GmbH is about to go out!

The travel industry is facing significant challenges as the young tour operator Aby GmbH has filed for bankruptcy. On April 15, 2025, the company, which specializes in high school and graduation trips, officially filed for insolvency. All trips that have not yet taken place have been canceled on May 16, 2025. At the time of the bankruptcy, there were no longer any travelers in vacation destinations, so there was no immediate impact on vacationers who had already traveled.

In order to help the affected customers, the German Travel Insurance Fund (DRSF) has promised to insure all package tours that were booked with Aby GmbH and to compensate the travelers accordingly. The company, founded in 2018, had its peak season between late April and mid-May, when most business was generated after high school exams. Given the ongoing uncertainties in the industry, the insolvency of Aby GmbH contributes to the worrying statistics of corporate insolvencies in Germany.

Bankruptcies at an all-time high

The number of company bankruptcies in Germany has increased alarmingly in recent years. In 2024, the country recorded almost 22,000 bankruptcies, the highest number since 2015. In the first quarter of 2025, the highest number of corporate bankruptcies was registered since the financial and economic crisis in 2009. Particularly affected are important sectors such as industry, construction and trade, which, according to experts, have reached an “absolute peak”.

Parallel to the bankruptcy of Aby GmbH, We-Flytour GmbH, another German tour operator, also hit the headlines. That company filed for bankruptcy, affecting 1,500 travelers, including vacationers in Egypt, Turkey and Mallorca. The bankruptcy announcement was made on November 25, 2024, resulting in cancellations of all trips beginning up to and including November 26. The DRSF will also offer travelers help here and ensure a safe journey home or continuation of their vacation.

Background of the bankruptcies

The increase in bankruptcies can be attributed to various factors. The aftereffects of the corona pandemic, a weakening domestic economy, geopolitical tensions and increased interest rates play a role here. The first half of 2024 alone recorded 162 bankruptcies of large companies and a shocking number of up to 11,000 bankruptcies of smaller companies, an increase of 30 to 40 percent compared to the previous year.

These developments highlight how fragile the travel and tourism sector has become. Travel reporters recommend that vacationers make sure they have the right travel insurance policy, especially in uncertain times, in order to be optimally protected in the event of insolvency.

In summary, the bankruptcies of Aby GmbH and We-Flytour GmbH highlight the current challenges in the industry and the need for travelers to be well informed and protected.

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