Last week saw more misery for those passengers who wanted to get away before autumn sets in. Kiss Flights became the third travel operator to go bust, following the after effects of the recession and the eruption of the Icelandic volcano back in April.
More than 70,000 people have been affected by the collapse of the travel operator last Tuesday, which specialised in sending travellers off to the Canary Islands, Egypt, Greece and Turkey. Around 13,000 customers are abroad with the company, although all are set to return home under the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority). However, delays maybe expected. Refunds will be accepted for those who had booked flights with the doomed operator, though not for accommodation.
The chief executive of Flight Options, the owner of Kiss Flights is devastated by the collapse, blaming the demise on late bookings, as well as the fallout from the volcanic ash disruption. Kiss Flights catered for many of the same routes as the recently collapsed Goldtrail Holidays. This means that some holidaymakers may be affected for a second time this summer. Last Friday, Sun4u also collapsed, leaving 16,000 customers stuck abroad. With these latest demises, I would expect more independent companies to go bust in the near future.
Although the Unite Union and BAA recently agreed a deal, preventing a potentially horrendous Bank Holiday strike which would have seen the shutdown of six British airports, including Stanstead and Heathrow, the aviation industry has taken a significant battering in 2010. The effects from the Icelandic volcano are hitting hard and the fallout may only just be beginning for many in insecure jobs, and many more thousands of holidaymakers who must be feeling the pain.
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