Zoom doomed to join failed air carriers
Discount air carrier, Zoom, flying from the UK to regional airports in Canada, the Caribbean and New York, left hundreds of passengers stranded and over 600 workers unemployed as it joined the growing list of failed airline carriers last night.
The founders, Scottish millionaires Hugh and John Boyle, issued a statement on Zoom’s website offering their regrets for the situation. They blamed increases in fuel prices of over 50 million (UK pounds) as the source of their insolvency.
The only recourse for passengers who booked their cheap airline tickets to Europe on this discount carrier is to file a claim with their credit card companies. Virgin Atlantic and British Airways stepped to the plate and offered Zoom’s passengers reduced-price tickets for their flights home.
Analysts suggest that Irish airline Aer Lingus and Italian airline Alitalia, both of which are facing heavy losses this year, are also at risk of ceasing operations.
How can we ensure our air travel when we purchase cheap airline tickets to Europe and beyond? One of the best ways is to also purchase travel protection insurance - but make sure the insurance carrier has not listed the airline from which you purchased your tickets as a “non-covered carrier.”
In this time of uncertain fuel prices, it is impossible to guaranty that the flight you purchased will not have delays, schedule changes, or worse, an insolvency.
Tags: Aer Lingus, Alitalia, cheap airline tickets to Europe, Zoom
