Zoom plane detained at Glasgow Airport over payment problem
28.08.08
The travel plans of hundreds of Scottish air passengers were thrown into chaos today after a plane belonging to transatlantic low-fare airline Zoom was detained at Glasgow Airport by UK authorities over the non-payment of charges, the Herald reports. The news follows a similar incident over cash concerns for the airline in Canada.
A spokesman for Glasgow Airport told the newspaper that it had been instructed by the UK's Civil Aviation Authority to detain a Canada-bound Boeing 757 operated by Zoom Airlines. BAA Glasgow said the matter concerned the non-payment of charges to European air traffic control company Eurocontrol and to the UK's air traffic control company Nats. BAA had also imposed a detention order in respect of charges owed to BAA Glasgow but that this order had now been lifted.
The detained flight had been due to leave for the Canadian cities of Halifax and Ottawa at 10:55 today. BAA said another Zoom flight, which should have left for Vancouver at 12.40 today, had also been delayed.
A BAA spokesman added: ‘Discussions are under way to resolve the matter. Until then, the departing aircraft (travelling to Halifax and Ottawa) is subject to delay until further notice. A later flight to Vancouver....is also delayed.'
‘BAA is working with Zoom Airlines to provide support and advice for passengers. Passengers intending to fly with Zoom Airlines should check the status of their flight with the airline.'
Zoom flies from Glasgow, Gatwick, Manchester, Cardiff and Belfast airports as well as from European airports to a number of North American destinations. In April, John Boyle, the millionaire co-owner of Zoom, said its finances were ‘robust’ despite fuel price pressures. He dismissed a report that the long-haul low-fares transatlantic airline may be about to run out of funds.
Mr Boyle and his brother Hugh set up Zoom six years ago after selling Direct Holidays to Airtours for £84m.
Add to: del.icio.us | Digg it | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
To book a airport hotel glasgow or airport car parking glasgow at the lowest price, click on these links to two great glasgow airport car parking and glasgow airport hotel price comparison pages.
