Travellers stranded as airline collapses

11:20am Friday 29th August 2008

Hundreds of travellers were left stranded following the collapse of low-fare airline Zoom, which flew to and from Manchester Airport, are attempting to make their way home.

The UK and Canada-based firm grounded all flights as it prepared to go into administration, blaming its financial difficulties on a massive jump in fuel bills as a result of the high cost of oil.

Passengers on both sides of the Atlantic face spending hundreds on alternative flights to return home.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said there were about 4,500 UK passengers abroad and approximately 60,000 passengers with forward bookings with Zoom Airlines Limited and Zoom Airlines Inc.

Zoom’s cash crisis became apparent on Wednesday follow the grounding of a Zoom flight from Paris at Calgary airport in Canada.

On Thursday, Glasgow Airport was instructed by the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority to detain a Halifax-bound flight over the non-payment of charges.

Do you know anybody affected by the collapse of Zoom? Phone the Newsdesk on 01204 537270 or email us HERE.

Passengers also began queueing for a later flight to Vancouver which never left the ground and travellers were told of the company’s collapse as they continued to wait into the evening.

A flight to Manchester from Vancouver, due to arrive at 12.55pm today was cancelled and the subsequent departute to Vancouver at 3.05pm this afternoon is also listed as cancelled.

Zoom, founded by Scottish brothers John and Hugh Boyle, said it had attempted to secure a re-financing package that would have kept its aircraft flying.

But the owners issued an apology to both travellers and its more than 600 staff after failing to strike a deal.

The airline is based at Gatwick and employs about 450 staff in Canada and 260 in the UK.

The Boyle brothers said: “It is a tragic day for our passengers and more than 600 staff. We are desperately sorry for the inconvenience and disappointment that this will cause passengers and those who have booked flights.”

Passengers due to fly with Zoom were sent email messages explaining what had happened and suggesting other airlines that customers could use.

Journalist Elizabeth Mavor was due to fly from Gatwick to Montreal with Zoom on September 19.

Ms Mavor, from north-west London, said today: “I had flown with Zoom before and they were great. It had never occurred to me that anything could go wrong. I had no inkling they were in trouble.

”I paid for my ticket with a credit card and I will have to wait beyond September 19 to get any money back. Now I’m trying to find an alternative airline.”