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Zoom Airlines cancels all flights
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by poolparty | August 28, 2008 at 11:22 am
3274 views | 22 Recommendations | 27 comments
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If you were flying on Zoom Airlines today – all flights have been cancelled. I was just alerted from a friend of mine at YVR that Zoom went bust and all flights have been cancelled. Hundreds of passengers are stranded at airports.
For more on this story please visit our Zoom Airlines channel
Update: for those that purchased their tickets from Cheap Tickets Canada.com - your purchase will be refunded.
Zoom Airline tickets with Cheap Tickets Canada.com will be refunded
VANCOUVER, Aug. 28 /CNW/ - Cheap Tickets Canada.com is reassuring all individuals who booked Zoom Airlines tickets with them, their purchases are
insured against supplier default. Unlike tickets bought directly with an airline such as Zoom, Cheap Tickets Canada.com is licenced with the BPCPA (Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority) of British Columbia."While we are in the process of rebooking all of our customers affected by the closure of Zoom Airlines onto alternate flights, we want our customers to know that we are a registered member of the BPCPA which will ensure they all get refunds for unused Zoom Airline tickets booked for today onwards," reports company CEO, Normand Schafer. "With the collapse of other airlines such as Oasis Hong Kong earlier this year and Jetsgo, Canjet and Canada 3000 a number of years ago, we are pleased to continue to provide protection to consumers buying travel on our website or through our call centre," adds Schafer.
View the website footer at www.CheapTicketsCanada.com for more
information about travel protection.
For further information: Normand Schafer, Cheap Tickets Canada.com,
Ph: (250) 412-0844
Notice posted on Zoom's website:
CUSTOMER ANNOUNCEMENT
Zoom Airlines sincerely regrets to advise its customers that it has suspended operations with effect from 18:00 UTC on Thursday 28 August.
All flights scheduled to depart from have been cancelled and Zoom's aircraft have been grounded.
Both Zoom Airlines Inc and Zoom Airlines Ltd, the Canadian and UK airlines, will be filing for insolvency proceedings in their home countries today.
For customers who have future travel plans involving a Zoom flight for which reservations and payment have been made, you should refer to your credit or debit card company to apply for a refund. We have set out details of other airlines who operate the same or similar routes to those flown with Zoom in the hope that this may assist you in making alternative travel plans to replace the flights that you had booked with Zoom.
If your travel arrangements have been made as part of a holiday package originating in the UK and booked through a holiday company, you may be able to make a claim under the CAA's Air Travel Organiser's Licence scheme. For information on this, please consult the CAA ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk.
Hugh and John Boyle, the founders of Zoom, said today: "We deeply regret the fact that we have been forced to cease all Zoom operations. It is a tragic day for our passengers and more than 600 staff.
"We are desperately sorry for the inconvenience that this will cause passengers and those who have booked flights.
"We have done everything we can to support the airline and left no stone unturned to secure a re-financing package that would have kept our aircraft flying. Even as late as yesterday we had secured a new investment package but the actions of creditors meant we could not continue flying.
"The collapse of Zoom is a result of matter beyond our control. Only last year Zoom Airlines made profit, but that turned into a loss in the last year due to the unprecedented increase in the price of aviation fuel and the economic climate. The price of oil resulted in our fuel bill jumping by nearly $50 million in one year and we could not recover that from passengers who had already booked their flights.
"We would like to thank the many thousands of passengers who chose to travel with Zoom during the last seven years and efforts of the airline's staff."
We have been advised that British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are graciously offering special fares to assist Zoom customers that have been displaced by the suspension of our services.
Hundreds of Zoom Airlines passengers were stranded in Canada and Britain when the cash-short Ottawa-based company suddenly suspended its operations and cancelled all of its flights after creditors took actions to get money owed to them.
Zoom said the economic downturn and the unprecedented rise in the price of aviation fuel had made it impossible for the privately owned company to continue operations.
Even before the company issued its official announcement, passengers knew there were problems because their flights were cancelled. But it took several hours before Zoom confirmed it had suspended operations due to money problems.
Zoom's founders apologized for the inconvenience caused by the airline's demise after it failed to pay bills to government, airport, supplier and aircraft creditors.
In Halifax, 213 people were stranded after baggage handlers apparently refused to load Zoom's aircraft because their company hasn't been paid.
A flight was grounded by court order in Calgary and another one was being delayed in Glasgow, Scotland.
Rising fuel costs added $50 million in operating costs for the airline in the last year, it said.
It's a problem that has hurt all airlines and forced several U.S. carriers into bankruptcy.
The Halifax airport is attempting to help 213 passengers reach their destinations with other airlines after the plane destined for Ottawa was grounded following a flight from London's Gatwick Airport.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (27)
at 17:29 on November 10th, 2008
Hi all
I am in the process of being refunded by Barclaycard when Oasis went bust. They made all the usual excuses to delay any refunds.
Any tickets purchased using a Credit Card is protected by the Consumer Credit Act 1974, section 75. Also add the Sale of Goods Act 1979 for any additional costs of purchasing replacement tickets.
This very helpfull info can be seen here http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=847637
Hope this helps
Win
at 11:37 on August 28th, 2008
Crazy! I wonder how many people are going to be affected by this. Glad I didn't book that ticket to Europe....
at 11:46 on August 28th, 2008
My parents had a flight booked on Zoom to London on September 7th. They are not scrambling around trying to book with BA, and are not happy at all.... They're not even sure how they're going to get a refund at this point.
at 12:03 on August 28th, 2008
What is it with Canadian airlines going bust: we now have a very bad track record for it: Nationair, Canadian, Royal, Canada 3000, Roots - the list goes on. We are a nation of 'air losers'.
at 12:28 on August 28th, 2008
my sister was flying from London to San Diego Monday..........anyone know if she will get her money back. She got a flight on Virgin but if she gets no refund this trip cost her double!
at 12:40 on August 28th, 2008
Canadian airlines aren't as heavily subsidized as many American carriers are, and thus are much more prone to spiking operational costs.
This means that Air Canada has even less incentive now to get better at what it does...
at 12:43 on August 28th, 2008
Your sister will have to apply for a refund via her credit card, as opposed to via Zoom. The bad news with this is that she'll have to book a usable ticket on her own, so the trip will cost double in the short term.
at 13:27 on August 28th, 2008
Stephanie Sobotka, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 14:06 on August 28th, 2008
I am the sister flying out to LA with Virgin on Monday now Zoom have gone bust. Unfortunately I paid by debit card, not credit card, not sure how thats going to affect the prospect of a refund. Zoom have gone silent and cant be reached! I feel for all those stranded at airports.
at 14:22 on August 28th, 2008
Stephanie Sobotka, I like this story. It will come as quite a shock as Zoom was a pretty good airline with affordable prices.
at 14:26 on August 28th, 2008
This was my favorite airline. Every time that I traveled from Vancouver to Europe I used this airline because it was the cheapest one and it's service was amazing.
I'm sorry they couldn't succeed :(
at 14:28 on August 28th, 2008
I find it a shame. I always chose Zoom to fly between Canada and the UK over more well established airlines. It was cheaper, and the service was comparable. RIP Zoom.
at 14:46 on August 28th, 2008
My parents are having to apply for their refund through their credit card. They think it won't be a problem, but it may take a while...
at 16:01 on August 28th, 2008
shame they have an aircraft grounded at glasgow thats an other good airline down the tube
scot_w_9 has contributed a photo to this story.
at 16:52 on August 28th, 2008
The way things are going we'll have to sprout wings to fly.
at 18:26 on August 28th, 2008
Passengers are having to make their own way home now - however they can.
Source: ukpress.google.com
at 22:47 on August 28th, 2008
I made a huge sacrifice to organize a trip with my 3 little girls to Italy and Portugal. If I cant get a refund from Zoom or from Visa, then Im out $2700 and we wont be able to make the trip. Anyone have ideas about VISA honoring a refund?
at 05:23 on August 29th, 2008
Stephanie Sobotka, I like this story. It's good stuff. http://www.ottawasun.com/News/OttawaAndRegion/2008/08/29/6603341-sun.html
at 16:43 on August 29th, 2008
Excellent News for our damaged planet.
It's about time people filled out a 20 question evaluation of their reasons for wrecking
the upper atmosphere with jet exhaust.
If their reasons are trivial they should not be permitted to sit in an armchair at 30,000 feet.
Whatever anyone moans about the points above - the global environmental emergency is NOW and the sooner we take such steps the better for all both now and in the future.
Keep your families close to you if you want to see them often.
at 12:31 on September 1st, 2008
Booked a ticket with Zoom and it cost me £500 return, they've gone bust a week before i was meant to fly. I've contacted my bank, natwest, who have said as i've paid with a debit card tuff! they wont give me a penny
at 08:59 on September 2nd, 2008
I booked my return ticket to the states about 3 months ago... I am now in the states and meant to be flying back in a few weeks for university, but seen as my bank nationwide wont refund me as I also paid by debit card, I now have no money to get back to university...
Think I may have to go to the embassy and be deported, its the only way I can back since I cant afford a flight.. guess Im never gonna be going back to the States again..
Thanks ZOOM. Way to screw everyone over!
at 07:37 on September 6th, 2008
I 've received forms to fill in from my credit card company. I need to "confirm that I have contacted the liquidators and they have not been able to refund the monies due". Does anyone know who Zoom's liquidators are please?
at 07:17 on September 27th, 2008
Did we find out who the liquidators are for Zoom?
at 02:28 on October 2nd, 2008
I too have been asked to provide a letter from the liquidators stating that I should contact my credit card provider, like you I do not know who the liquidators are? My cc provider suggested I contact my local trading standards department to get the liquidators address but I hardly think they would know anything as I am in the UK. Do you know any more?
at 01:08 on October 12th, 2008
I deeply resent your ignorant and malicious comments about people flying the Atlantic, following the collapse of Zoom Airline.
My wife and I, in our late 70s have only one opportunity a year to see our grandchildren, for which we give up many other things in order to save for a trip to Canada.
Whether we add to atmospheric pollution in any measurable way is open to doubt and the case is unproven, except to those whose minds are closed and who have a malevolent wish to see others harmed.
Please try to be rational and also try to see why your comments and attitude are deeply hurtful to others .
at 01:14 on October 12th, 2008
I am owed nearly £1,100 by Zoom and am having the same trouble with trying to get a refund. Barclaycard are demanding copies etc of my correspondence with the liquidator, with whom I have had no contact as I have no idea who this may be. A friend who was in the same position has already had a refund ( some time ago) by getting City Bank to act for him.
Do you have any ideas where we go from here? Let us all keep in touch until we have got this matter resolved.
Best wishes.
Patrick
at 09:54 on October 17th, 2008
www.pkf.co.uk/zoom PKF(UK)LLP, 78 Carlton Place, Glasgow G5 9TH. Hope this helps.