Transatlantic budget airline Zoom collapses

Hundreds of travellers left stranded following the collapse of low-fare airline Zoom will attempt to make their way home today.

The UK and Canada-based firm, which operates routes from Belfast, grounded all flights last night as they prepared to go into administration.

Zoom, which operated from five UK airports, blamed 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.

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

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

Passengers also began queueing for a later flight to Vancouver which never left the ground.

Travellers were told of the company’s collapse as they continued to wait into the evening.

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.

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 around 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.”