Heads up for anyone flying Zoom

[Cruise Junky]

http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/story.html?id=60cb4667-a70d-4d8d-9462-b13d8081919e

 

Things not looking good. One jet grounded this morning for unpaid bills.

[maryann2]

You are right things not looking good. I had planned to use them for a one way flight To London in October as the price was right. Feel really bad for those booked with them. Was able to get a one way flight with BA through flight network.

[Cruise Junky]

You are right things not looking good. I had planned to use them for a one way flight To London in October as the price was right. Feel really bad for those booked with them. Was able to get a one way flight with BA through flight network.

 

Good, glad it wasn't too late for you. I heard WestJet stepped in this morning for the stranded passengers. That's a good thing!

[Globaliser]

Another aircraft was grounded in Glasgow today, for non-payment of UK air traffic control fees.

 

The BBC reports:-

Airline admits financial problems

 

Zoom Airlines has admitted being in financial difficulty after two planes used by the company were grounded over alleged non-payment of fees.

 

The company said it had been affected by "acutely difficult" trading conditions.

 

More than 200 passengers were left stranded at Glasgow Airport when their Zoom flight bound for Halifax and Ottawa was refused permission to leave.

 

A flight from Calgary to Glasgow was also said to have been grounded.

 

Eurocontrol and the National Air Traffic Services said charges had not been paid by the Canadian company.

 

It is understood to have been grounded over a payment dispute.

 

Zoom Airlines later announced it had sought creditor protection.

 

...

[calmac]

This is from the BBC's website

 

"Zoom Airlines has admitted being in financial difficulty after two planes used by the company were grounded over alleged non-payment of fees.

 

 

The company said it had been affected by "acutely difficult" trading conditions.

 

 

More than 200 passengers were left stranded at Glasgow Airport when their Zoom flight bound for Halifax and Ottawa was refused permission to leave.

A flight from Calgary to Glasgow was also said to have been grounded.

Eurocontrol and the National Air Traffic Services said charges had not been paid by the Canadian company.

 

 

It is understood to have been grounded over a payment dispute.

Zoom Airlines later announced it had sought creditor protection.

Hugh Boyle, executive chairman of Zoom, said: "Our trading position is a direct consequence of the horrendous increase in the price of aviation fuel and the economic climate."

 

 

A Glasgow Airport spokesman said discussions were under way to try to resolve the payment dispute.

 

'Alternative carrier'

He said a Zoom flight to Vancouver was due to go out on Thursday evening but there was a 12-hour delay in place because of technical problems.

Passengers will be diverted via Gatwick to Vancouver.

 

 

A spokesman for Zoom said: "A plane flying from Glasgow to Vancouver last night, via Calgary, stopped off as scheduled.

 

 

"Sixty-nine passengers due to travel to Vancouver were then transported in an alternative carrier, completing their journey that way."

 

 

He said the "resultant knock-on effect" of that had affected services but that they hoped they would return to normal later on Thursday.

 

Zoom has been operating flights between Scotland and Canada for seven years."

[Cruise Junky]

I think their website has also gone down. A couple of hours ago I checked for a press release and their website was normal, now you just get the header with no option to book anything.

[Bramcruiser]

I almost booked Zoom last winter for our upcoming flight over to England. I was seriously looking at them but managed to find a bargain price on another scheduled carrier (Zoom being a chartered carrier) and thus went for that. Good thing I did. My trip to England is saved so far. Whew!

 

Sorry to hear that Zoom didn't make it though. And yes, the news is now announcing that their website is indeed down.

 

David

[M&A]

That's too bad, I used Zoom two years ago to come back from the UK after our transatlantic. Thought it was good service. Doesn't leave Canadians with too many low cost alternatives

[Globaliser]

The BBC has now confirmed the suspension of all flights:-

Zoom Airlines suspend all flights

 

Transatlantic budget carrier Zoom Airlines has suspended all of its flights after admitting it was applying to go into administration.

 

Passengers due to fly with Zoom were told to book with other carriers and to contact card issuers about refunds.

 

Earlier, two of the airline's jets were held at Glasgow and Cardiff airports.

 

UK-Canadian Zoom blamed its problems on the "horrendous" price of jet fuel - which had added $50m (£27.3m) to annual fuel bills - and the economic slowdown.

 

...

 

'Desperately sorry'

 

"We deeply regret the fact that we have been forced to suspend all Zoom operations. It is a tragic day for our passengers and staff," said Zoom founders Hugh and John Boyle.

 

"We are desperately sorry for the inconvenience and disappointment 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."

 

They added that hopes of securing a new investment package to ensure future operations had failed, meaning administration procedures had to begin.

 

Zoom said BA and Virgin Atlantic were offering "generous" fares for Zoom passengers.

 

...

[steve20832]

The airline website confirms it http://www.flyzoom.com/

 

 

 

CUSTOMER ANNOUCEMENT

 

 

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.

[Globaliser]

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have started putting up details of what they're doing - click those links to reach the relevant pages.

[SelectSys]

I was sad to see Zoom go as they provided the only, albeit seasonal, service to Europe from San Diego. Perhaps a better economy and open skies will bring BA, LH, or AF to San Diego.