Another airline fails leaving thousands potentially stranded:

It was sad to learn that Fly Globespan, Scotland’s Largest Airline, had gone into Administration last evening with all flights cancelled. This leaves many disappointed holiday makers hoping to go away for Christmas and thousands potentially stranded abroad.

Amro used Globespan for many of our Scottish departures. Last night, we contacted all our passengers overseas, many of whom were unaware of the demise until we called, to advise them of their new return flights which we had re-booked on alternative carriers. This was all at no extra cost to them as they are fully protected under our ATOL.

This morning, we have contacted passengers due to go away over the next few months. Rather than simply cancel and refund their money, we have worked to re-book them and ensure they can still enjoy their holiday – again at no additional cost.

By lunchtime, everyone was sorted – we even helped some clients who had not booked with us but were staying in the same resorts – and we have had some great emails of thanks. We celebrated our success with mince pies!

Thanks everyone !

ATOL and all that !!

I make no apology for plugging time and time again, at this difficult time, that Amro Worldwide holds ATOL5826 issued by the UK Civil Aviation Authority for your holiday protection. Nearly seven years ago when I was planning the launch of Amro, I decided that we should aspire to provide the very highest standards and levels of financial protection for our holidaying travellers. It was simply nothing more than I expected when I travelled and I failed to see why the gay community should expect anything less.

Getting an ATOL isn't easy. All the Director's of Amro Holidays Ltd were personally vetted by the Civil Aviation Authority Consumer Protection Group. I was interviewed for over an hour about how I would run the business and my background. A financial bond was taken meaning if Amro failed, I would loose my home - not an easy thing to agree to! To cap it all, I had to find £50,000 in cash.

With those sort of financial penalties around, I don't take chances with Amro and that's why I believe we remain and prosper in the business of gay travel. Our holidays are no more expensive than any others and in a lot of cases far cheaper, so I often wonder why anyone takes a chance and books their precious holiday with any holiday company which does not hold an ATOL.

Andrew

Zoom Airlines cancels all flights

Yesterday, all Zoom Airlines flights were cancelled and the airline went into Administration to join the growing list of failures this year. Eos, Maxjet, Silverjet, Nationwide, Oasis Hong Kong and now Zoom have left passengers stranded overseas and many more disappointed at home. Many will have lost large sums of money and their holiday.

It's days like yesterday when I wonder why anyone books any travel other than through an ATOL holder such as Amro Worldwide. Both the clients' money and the holiday are fully protected and our well-oiled plan swung into action. By lunchtime all our Zoom passengers had been identified and re-booked onto other airlines - their holiday and money were safe. Many didn't even know Zoom had failed before we contacted them including one passenger in a Ft Lauderdale gay guest house. He woke up to find our fax under his door telling him he is flying back tonight on Virgin from Miami and his transfer pick-up time was now an hour later - more time in the sun was his reaction !!

Zoom was not a bad airline - far from it. It offered very high standards of service and had run a punctual and safe airline since it started flying four years ago. But when the price of jet fuel doubles in under year, only the most financially strong airlines can cope. Sadly, I don't believe it is the last.

Andrew