FAMILIES’ Christmases have been hit after a travel company owned by a Conservative councillor cancelled all festive flights.

Arun District Councillor Paul Dendle said he has laid off all his staff and cancelled all Christmas flights for the low cost flight operator he runs.

Fly Lolo offered flights to the Canaries from Gatwick during the school holidays, but has now cancelled all their flights.

The airline company did not own any planes – but promised to charter routes – to give families peak season trips during the school holiday.

Passengers were told by email that their holiday plans were in tatters.

A recorded message on the firm’s customer services phone number confirmed festive flights had been scrapped – and that the future of the company was uncertain.

The statement from the company, which also trades as Loloflights.co.uk, said: “The Christmas flying, all flights from December 20 to January 5 have been cancelled.

“All the refunds are actually happening and will be in your accounts by November 27.

“We are pausing trading at the moment whilst we refund all monies, restructure and decide what to do for the future.

“Sorry for the inconvenience. “

Conservative councillor for Arundel Mr Dendle is listed as the sole director of the company Loloflights.co.uk.

Speaking to The Argus, Mr Dendle said: “Loloflights is an ATOL protected flight operator and has operated a successful flight programme for Christmas 2017 & 2018 flights to the Canary islands.

“We had been intending to do the same for this Christmas, but unfortunately for various reasons we have been unable to agree a flight programme for this Christmas, so we have taken the difficult decision to cancel our flights and refund everyone in full.

“The company is discussing a close relationship with a supplier airline and whilst we do that we have decided to suspend our trading”

Mr Dendle has declared the company in his official register of interests as an elected representative for Arun District Council.

He is also registered as a former director of two travel companies that went into administration Arvo Ltd and First Aviation.

He was also a director of dissolved software firm Traveloptions (Software)Ltd.

Mr Dendle is the councillor of Arundel and Walberton and sits on the council’s audit and governance committee which “ensures that the council’s business is conducted honestly and prudently and that the public interest is protected”.

Loloflights was incorporated as a private limited company in August 2013.

Customers were told to email any complaints or questions.