Volcanic ash cloud returns

LONG: Could be a frustrating night for many passengers

MISERY faces thousands of airline travellers yet again, as the volcanic ash cloud over Iceland returns to haunt people again.  The latest eruption, which occurred on Sunday, caused misery for millions of passengers last year.  Although it is believed to not have the same impact as it did in 2010, there is still plenty of disruption and delays particularly today for many passengers.  Tonight, a number of these will face the severe possibility of sleeping on the floors of airport terminals across the country yet again.

     The ash cloud is across all of England, but it is Central Scotland that has been the worst affected part of the UK today.  Most flights in and out from Edinburgh and Glasgow airports were cancelled, as those delayed were forced to either wait around, or to be diverted onto coaches to airports in the North of England that weren’t as badly hit.  Newcastle airport was one of those not so fortunate.  Easy Jet and Ryanair have cancelled approximately 75 per cent of all Scottish bound flights, but Ryanair are furious with the cancellations they’ve had to make.  They attempted to defy the ash cloud today; the Irish airliner claiming that a test flight made earlier this morning showed ‘no evidence of volcanic ash on the wings or engines’ of its test aircraft.  It’s chairman has accused the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) of incompetence.  In the end, it was the Irish Aviation Authority who forced Ryanair to back down on safety grounds.

     The transport secretary Phillip Hammond has responded to those claims made by Ryanair;

“The CAA can confirm that at no time did a Ryanair flight enter the notified area of high contamination ash over Scotland this morning.  My information is that the Ryanair jet did not in fact fly into any of the ‘red zones’ designated by the CAA.”  He told Sky News.

     It isn’t just the general public affected.  Barcelona have decided to travel earlier than initially planned to London.  They will touch down at Heathrow airport this evening, to avoid being caught up in the ash cloud chaos before Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final against Manchester United.  Barack Obama was forced to arrive in the UK 24 hours earlier than initially anticipated, cutting short his state visit to Ireland in the process.  The Met Office predicts most of the ash cloud will have left the UK by tomorrow lunchtime, although this depends on the latest ferocity of the eruptions on the Icelandic volcano.

    It might not be about to create the mayhem it did last year, but the Icelandic volcano is back as a factor in travel plans and many stranded passengers face a long and frustrating evening.

Kiss Flights Demise Add To The Growing Travel Pain

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.  

Goldtrail Collapses, Increasing The Travel Industry's Bleak Year

The doom and gloom for the travel industry in 2010 increased at the weekend, with the collapse of British tour operator, Goldtrail.

Goldtrail, based in south-west London went into administration on Friday afternoon, leaving 16,000 customers overseas and stuck in their efforts to return home.  The company specialised in low-cost flights to Turkey and Greece.  The CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) has confirmed that there would be no more flights going out underneath the organisation and that it was doing what it could to get stranded passengers home to the UK. 

The collapse of the company, established just before the end of the 20^th century is a mid-sized operator that didn’t specialise with any particular airline, unlike many of their rivals such as Ryanair and Easyjet.  Goldtrail instead earned their money by booking seats on charter airlines like Saga and Viking Airways.  The summer plans of approximately 50,000 holidaymakers now look to be in ruins. 

The CAA is doing what they can to cope with the situation, and has said that flights home from Turkey shouldn’t be affected.  However, those in Greece should be warned that changes are likely to occur and to double-check with local representatives at airports of the future plans.

Despite knowing of their troubles, many customers travelling with Goldtrail were only told of the company’s flight late on Friday night.  Mark McLay arrived at Glasgow airport on Friday night at 8.45pm, for a flight to Turkey with his girlfriend.  However, he was not told of the company’s demise until the early hours of Saturday, long after they had already checked in.  He told the BBC News Website of his frustration:

“At 1am, we were called together and told over the Tannoy that Goldtrail had gone into administration, that we would not be flying and we would be escorted out of the building.”  “One woman was crying and it was bad for the families, although everyone took it as well as could be expected.”

For several months, there has been intense speculation that Goldtrail was on verge of extinction.  The CAA has predicted that smaller tour operators, who don’t have the funds to attract customers, advertising exposure and package deals may find it incredibly hard to survive.  Last year, the company appeared in a BBC Watchdog consumer affairs programme and feedback of late has not been very encouraging.  One comment on a travel website described the experience of travelling with Goldtrail to Turkey as a “holiday from hell!”

Although their demise has been widely reported, I feel sorry for those whose plans have been affected, and it is just another painstaking blow for an industry, which has had a horrific 2010, dealing with adverse weather conditions, the volcanic ash shutdown in Iceland over Easter and pointless strikes from British Airways cabin crew. 

Goldtrail customers can call the CAA on 0203 4410846 for more information.