Zoom Airlines Suspends Operations

Zoom Airlines sincerely regrets to advise its customers that it has suspended operations with effect from 19:00 hrs on Thursday 28 August 2008. Both Zoom Airlines Inc and Zoom Airlines Ltd, the Canadian and UK airlines, have started administration proceedings in their home countries.

All Zoom flights have been cancelled and aircraft grounded.

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 tonight: “We deeply regret the fact that we have been forced to suspend all Zoom operations. 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.

“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 late today we believed we had secured a new investment package to ensure future operations but the actions of creditors meant we could not continue flying. Having been unable to complete the investment package the directors of Zoom had no option but to instigate administration proceedings.

“The suspension of operations is a result of the exceptionally difficult trading conditions which have affected all airlines over the last 12 months. We have worked hard over the last seven years to build up a successful business but have incurred losses in the current year due to the unprecedented increase in the price of aviation fuel and the economic climate. The increase in the price of oil has added around $50 million to our annual operating costs 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 are extremely sorry for today’s unavoidable actions.”

Both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have indicated that they will be offering special fares to customers whose travel plans have been affected by Zoom’s suspension of flights. Please visit www.ba.com or www.virgin-atlantic.com for full details.

Taken From the Official Zoom Website.

Flybe Gives Zoom Lifeline

Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline, has once again come to the rescue of stranded passengers, this time to those needing to change their travel plans following Zoom Airlines’ announcement yesterday that it had suspended operations with immediate effect.

To help passengers needing to make alternative arrangements with other transatlantic carriers, anyone holding an existing Flybe booking allowing them to connect to/from a Zoom flight, will be able to change their itinerary and only pay the normal change fee. Flybe will not charge any additional costs associated with any difference there might be in the cost of the new fare.

Passengers must provide proof of a fully paid Zoom booking and need to contact Flybe’s call centre within the next 7 days in order to benefit from this offer. To re-book, customers need to telephone our Customer Call Centre on 0871 522 6157.

Mike Rutter, Flybe’s Chief Commercial Officer says: “We stepped in to help out with stranded Euromanx passengers, and now we’ve made it possible to help out those passengers flying with the former transatlantic carrier, Zoom.

“Flybe understands the vital role that affordable and convenient regional air travel connections mean to our passengers. We are therefore pleased to be able to step in and offer stranded Zoom passengers to change their travel plans at minimal cost and with as little disruption as possible.”

Official Press Release Flybe dated 29th August 2008.

Zoom Helps Animal Charity

The outstanding work done by volunteers at the Last Chance Animal Rescue is being supported by generous donations from Zoom Airlines, the Atlantic’s only dedicated low-fare carrier.

Last Chance Animal Rescue Centre based in Kent, rescues dogs, cats & small furry animals of all ages, desperately seeking loving homes throughout the UK.

Everyone knows that when flying, comfort is a top priority and Zoom recognises this by offering onboard comfort bags containing a fleecy blanket and other essentials to make your flight as pleasant and enjoyable as possible. For the past three months Zoom airlines has established an effective and mutually beneficial relationship with Last Chance Animal Rescue Centre so that the bags and blankets do not go to waste.

On all of Zoom’s inbound flights to the UK the bags and blankets that are left behind are collected by the cabin crew and picked up by Last Chance to provide bedding and warmth to the rescued dogs and cats. Already this relatively new initiative from Zoom has meant that thousands of bags and blankets have been sent. Zoom’s customers, therefore, can enjoy the comfort of the bags while they are onboard, safe in the knowledge that they will later provide warm and cosy consolation to many disadvantaged animals.

Jessica Djanogly, an employee of Zoom, initiated the project when her own family got a dog from Last Chance. Miss Djanogly Said: “I approached Last Chance when I wanted to find a charity quite near Gatwick which could benefit from such donations. My first though was Last Chance, near Edenbridge where my family had recently got a dog and where every penny goes towards the animals. The Manager, Yuri, was very enthusiastic that the bags and blankets could be put to good use and I am pleased to see now that Last Chance really are benefitting from our donations.”

Yuri, the manager of Last Chance, said: “It has been great to work with Zoom and to get all these wonderful donations for our kennels and cattery. They really are fantastic because they wash well and dry quickly; top priorities for us. The bags are particularly popular with the cats! Zoom also recently contributed two return tickets to Fort Lauderdale or San Diego for our Fun Day Auction and we are very appreciative of all the help they have given us.”

Zoom are now expanding this scheme to include Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare and the Reigate and Crawley Cats Protection League. The project has been a great success so far and continues to go from strength to strength.

Official Press Release Zoom dated 5th August 2008.

Zoom Airlines Launches Summer 2009 Flights

Zoom Airlines, the leading transatlantic low-fare carrier, has launched its summer 2009 schedule.

Zoom remains committed to providing the highest standards of service at competitive fares. Its new schedule includes developments to provide more, convenient non-stop services than ever before on Zoom’s network. Summer 2009 highlights include:

Zoom’s services from Manchester are expanded by the introduction of two non-stop weekly flights to Toronto and a second weekly flight to Vancouver;
 
The introduction of a non-stop Thursday flight between Glasgow and Vancouver, complementing the existing Sunday flight which also serves Calgary;
 
Zoom’s route from London Gatwick to Fort Lauderdale in south Florida – launched earlier this year – is expanded with the introduction of non-stop flights on Saturdays. Extra services have also been added over the Easter period in April 2009;
 
Flights from London Gatwick to San Diego, Zoom’s new gateway to southern California, will be expanded from June 2009 to include a third weekly non-stop service;
 
New non-stop services between London Gatwick and Ottawa will operate every Sunday from May 2009 throughout the summer season.
 
Zoom is offering great value fares on every route, with the lowest fares available for those customers booking early.

In addition to the competitive prices available for Zoom flights, travel insurance prices have been cut by up to a third whilst still offering the same competitive levels of cover. Travel insurance policies are available through Zoom from only £25 per person for a one-week trip.

Commenting on the launch of the new schedule, Zoom Chairman Hugh Boyle said: “We’re delighted to be extending the range of flights available for 2009 and continuing our low-fare transatlantic revolution. The recent Which? consumer survey confirmed that customers preferred Zoom’s service to that of our main competitors and we will continue to work hard to bring fantastic service at fantastic prices to customers in every market that we serve.”

Official Press release (abridged) Zoom Airlines dated 25 July 2008.