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Zoom joins the summer lineup of bankrupt airlines
The only thing worse than seeing an airline go out of business, is watching it unfold while you are at the airport waiting to get on one of their flights. That is the unfortunate situation many passengers of Canadian airline Zoom found themselves in yesterday. Zoom took off in May 2002 and was founded by 2 brothers who wanted to introduce low cost international travel to Canada with a fleet of 5 Boeing aircraft. The airline flew various routes from Canada to the United States, The UK, France and Italy.
One of the Boeing 757's leased by Zoom was stranded in Glasgow and impounded when Zoom failed to pay the required air traffic control fee. Another 213 passengers were stuck in Halifax while volunteers attempted to find alternative ways to help them get to their final destination of Ottawa. Zoom naturally blames the loss of their airline on rising fuel costs and a general ecomonic downturn. They are they the 36th airline in the world to close this year according to a list posted on Wikipedia.
Sadly there really are no good tips on what to do when you are stuck at an airport after your airline goes bankrupt. All I can suggest is that you have the phone numbers for other airlines and hotel chains programmed in your phone, the quicker you get in touch with them for an alternative flight, or for a room where you can spend the night, the greater your chances are of getting home before anyone else. It is in times like this that you'll also learn to appreciate the importance of paying for your tickets by credit card, which might help you get your money back. Don't depend on the airline to provide you with information when things go sour, most of their staff will be the first to leave the building once they hear their employer is going under.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Spicy Number Aug 30th 2008 12:12PM
This actually happened to me and my husband on our way back from Jamaica. We used a travel agent to book everything, so thankfully our agent had already booked us on another flight. It was quite shocking to get to the airport and be told the airline you're scheduled to fly on is out of business!
Harry Assman Aug 30th 2008 12:29PM
I hope they all go broke maybe we will get something better !
HONEYPEEP27@AOL.COM Aug 30th 2008 12:52PM
ZOOM AIRLINES ?? SOUNDS LIKE A FLY BY NITE OPERATION !!
WHAT IS ZOOM AIRLINES!!
I HAVE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF THEM, THEY MUST BE ONE OF THOSE WING AND A PRAYER OPERATIONS
R.S.T Aug 30th 2008 1:24PM
I believe they are a Canadian Airline.
honeypeep27@aol Aug 30th 2008 12:55PM
ZOOM AIRLINES ?? WHAT THE HELL IS ZOOM AIRLINES ? SOUNDS LIKE A FLY BY NITE OPERATION
OH MY GOD HOW WILL WE ALL EXIST WITHOUT ZOOM AIRLINES!! HA HA HA
ZOOM WENT ZOOM!
Gary Aug 30th 2008 1:45PM
I remember Laker Airlines, owned by Sir Freddy Laker in the '60s. New york to London was $99! Of course no movies and you had to bring your own food, but it lasted several years, and no one complianed about "lousy service!" Ah, those were the days!
Gary Aug 30th 2008 1:51PM
Zoom Airlines?? Ever seen their chief pilot? He;s an experienced pro, he flew the Illinois mail with Linburgh!