TRAVELLERS left stranded by the collapse of budget airline Zoom today told how they were forced to pay thousands of pounds for alternative flights, or cancel their dream holiday.
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Passengers returned to Glasgow Airport to try to salvage their trip after spending the night in a nearby hotel.
The UK and Canada-based firm grounded all flights last night as it prepared to go into administration.
At the Zoom desk at Glasgow the customer announcement detailing the company's collapse was taped to the counter.
Aaron Steele, 30, from Ottawa, was today trying to return home from his honeymoon in Scotland.
The IT worker managed to book a flight from Edinburgh and said the couple had to get a taxi to the airport if they were to make it on time.
He said: "We're travelling from Edinburgh to Ottawa via New York. It was around £1,000 for the flights plus we had to pay for a night in a hotel.
"We tried to get a flight until 11pm last night then realised we'd have to come back this morning.
"It has not been very well handled."
Isobel and Michael Shannon, from Dumfriesshire, said they would have to cancel their two-week holiday to Nova Scotia after failing to find affordable flights today.
They have already paid for accommodation and car hire and do not know if they will be eligible for a refund.
The couple have also paid for 15 days car parking at Glasgow Airport.
Mrs Shannon, 58, said: "The other airlines are quoting £2,500 and we just can't do it.
"We'll have to cancel our trip but the Canadians need to get home, they are just going to have to pay out."
Mr Shannon, 61, said: "We appreciate that airlines go bust but what I object to is that the authorities at the airport made no attempt to communicate with passengers.
"BAA would have known about this in good time and they didn't let us know."
Helen Steel, 31, was due to travel with her husband, mother and five-month-old daughter to Halifax, Canada, for a holiday yesterday.
She said: "We were here for 7am yesterday and were told at 5.30pm that Zoom had gone under.
"We booked into a hotel and we were on the internet until 11.30pm trying to find flights.
"Today BA are quoting £2,500 and BMI only have business class seats left."
The family said that BA did not seem aware of the "special fares" that Zoom had said would be offered to passengers following its collapse.
Mrs Steel said: "It seems that we've been left with no help from anybody."
Her mother Mary O'Dell, 57, added tearfully: "It's a desperate situation. It was to be a holiday of a lifetime."
BAA Glasgow said they were "deeply sorry" for passengers and staff affected by the collapse of Zoom.
A spokesman said extra staff were drafted into the airport yesterday, and overnight, to help deal with Zoom passengers and direct them to alternative airlines.
He added: "We would remind passengers intending due to travel with Zoom Airlines in the coming days that all of the airline's flights have now been cancelled.
"Anyone planning to fly from Glasgow with Zoom should not travel to the airport unless they have made alternative travel arrangements."
The operator said Canadian Affair and flyglobespan operated from Glasgow to Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.
There are no direct flights to Halifax or Ottawa.
The full article contains 604 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
