Sudden shutdown of Skyservice strands passengers

Some holidaymakers were left stranded today after the unexpected closure of the charter airline Skyservice. On Wednesday, Skyservice announced that it would stop operations after the Supreme Court of Ontario handed the 15-year-old carrier over to its new owner.

Debt problems and unpredictable changes in the Canadian tourism market led to the airline’s shutdown, Skyservice stated in a press release. According to the airline’s website, Skyservice flew 20 Boeing and Airbus aircrafts, and employed about 1,200 people. The airline company also provided charter flights to key tour agencies, such as SunQuest and Signature Vacations.

Yesterday’s announcement came as a surprise to many, especially those Winnipeg travellers who booked the 8:00 flight bound to the Dominican Republic. The Caribbean-bound flight had been rescheduled to 16:00, while tour agencies scrambled to find an alternative aircraft that can accommodate their stranded guests.

Ron Pradinuk, a Winnipeg-based travel agent, said that although Skyservice’s unexpected closure is a big shock, it will only have a short-term impact on the tourism industry. He is confident that tour operations will find another aircraft by the time travellers need to go back home from the Dominican Republic.

Pradinuk told that Skyservice’s shutting down will just be a minor problem and will not affect tour agencies’ operations a week from now. He added that SunQuest and Signature Vacations are big players, and they have contacts with several airlines worldwide.

Skyservice’s sudden shutdown shocked not only its passengers but also its workers. The carrier’s closure is expected to slash about 860 jobs.