Another low cost, seat only tour operator based in the United Kingdom has suspended its operations as of 17th August 2010.
The company had been bought in January by the London-based Flight Options. Kiss Flights, which operated flights to the eastern Mediterranean and the Canary Islands, became the second to go bust in a week. The collapse of this low-cost travel firm has left tens of thousands of holidaymakers scrambling to arrange alternative flights.
Following the decision of Kiss Flights to suspend its operations, the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK has decided to come forward to help stranded passengers. Passengers who were due to travel with Kiss Flights should claim for a refund with the Civil Aviation Authority as the company has suspended its operations.
After initially being told their flights were cancelled, passengers due to travel before Wednesday night were able to fly before Kiss Flights stopped operating.
“We had a phone call from the company we’ve booked the holiday with, letting us know what had happened to Kiss Flights, and to confirm our holiday was going ahead,” said a woman at Gatwick Airport.
A male traveller said: “I received an answer phone message from the holiday company, just telling me that the flight was cancelled. And I received another answer message about one and a half hour later, telling us we could fly.”
Some passengers who had booked with Kiss Flights did so after another holiday firm, with whom they were originally due to fly, went out of business last month.
Viking Airlines, the Swedish carrier which operated Kiss Flights, is still flying as usual. It has referred those who booked with the failed company to the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority.
The CAA has reassured tourists stranded abroad that alternative flights will be found.
Kiss Flights is the 13th British holiday firm to fold this year. Several had already been weakened by the Icelandic ash cloud that paralysed European air traffic in the spring.
Earlier this week, more disruption was narrowly averted when agreement was reached in a pay dispute involving ground staff who had been threatening strike action.
CAA- Civil Aviation Authority reassures passengers affected by the suspension of Kiss flights operations will be refunded according to ATOL 4233 regulations. The CAA- Civil Aviation Authority has created a hotline number 0844 571 7262 for any queries concerning Kiss flights ticket refunding.
For further information, visit Civil Aviation Authority or Kiss Flights, once their site is up and running.
Source: CAA
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