British Travel Operator Kiss Flights Fails

More than 70,000 holidaymakers are scrambling to make alternative flight arrangements due to the collapse of Kiss Flights, a budget travel operator, who is now the 13th in Britain to fold this year. The failure has left many stranded in Egypt, the Canary Islands, Greece and Turkey.

Before Kiss Flights ceased trading on Wednesday evening, about 1,500 travelers were able to catch their scheduled flights to the Mediterranean. There are an estimated 13,000 stranded abroad, and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is making plans to get them home when their holidays end. Meanwhile, around 60,000 with forward bookings have been trying to rebook flights with other companies. Some of these travelers were originally booked with Goldtail, which collapsed mid-last month, and then rebooked with Kiss Flights, so it’s frustrating for them that this is happening again.

Gary Ash, the chief executive of Flight Options, which bought Kiss Flights last year, said that the impact of the volcanic ash cloud crisis was devastating to the company. When the banks were in trouble, they were bailed out by the government, he vented, but now that tour operators have had to deal with the airspace closure and repatriation costs, the government does nothing to help. He added that the collapse of Goldtrail cost them as well, as they have had to assume responsibility for many unsold seats.

The travel sector has been hit by more than the ash cloud and other travel firm failures. Strikes have been a big issue as well, with the walkouts by British Airways cabin crew being the biggest. It’s anticipated by analysts that even more travel operators will go under before things really start getting better, while there is also fear across all markets of a double-dip recession next year.