Air Operator Kiss Flights Ceases Trading
Budget air operator Kiss Flights has ceased trading, leaving over ten thousand holidaymakers abroad.
A message posted on owner Flight Options' website says: "As of 1700 hours on 17 August the Flight Options group of companies has ceased trading.
"The Civil Aviation Authority have been informed and we are awaiting further advise on the situation Please contact the CAA for a further update www.atol.org.uk.
Kiss offered flights to Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Cyprus, the Canary Islands, Spain and Portugal.
A spokesman for the CAA said: "We are picking up the pieces. People abroad will be fine.
"We will make sure everyone will be able to come back from their holidays.
"The CAA estimates that around 13,000 people are currently overseas - all of them will be able to complete their holidays and return to the UK thanks to the CAA's ATOL protection.
"Around 60,000 people have forward bookings with the company and will be able to claim a full refund for the ATOL-protected elements of their holidays from the CAA.
"Because the company has failed at the height of summer, the CAA is also putting in place arrangements to allow people to travel out on their holidays for the next 24 hours, to minimise confusion and protect passengers.
Advice for Flight Options / Kiss Flights customers with flights leaving the UK before 1800 BST on Wednesday 18 August 2010:
These flights will operate as planned, and passengers should go to the airport and check in as normal.
Advice for Flight Options / Kiss Flights customers who are currently overseas:
The CAA will ensure that ATOL-protected customers are able to fly home as planned; they should therefore arrive at the airport in time to check-in for their flights home as normal.
In order for customers to determine whether they are ATOL protected or not, they should check that they booked a flight with Flight Options / Kiss Flights.
To do this, customers should check the invoice/receipt received at the time the booking was made and paid for.
The company sold only a very small number of package holidays, consequently, in most cases, ATOL protects only the flight element of their holiday.
Accommodation booked independently with other firms is not effected by the failure.
Advice for Flight Options / Kiss Flights customers with forward bookings after 1800 BST on Wednesday 18 August 2010:
Flight Options / Kiss Flights customers are financially protected under ATOL 4233 and should not travel on booked holidays after 18:00 BST on Wednesday 18 August 2010 but instead should make a claim for a refund from the CAA.
Customers who booked through Flight Options / Kiss Flights should seek advice from their travel agents about alternative travel arrangements."
Flight Options was launched in 1995 offering flights to various Mediterranean destinations.
Kiss was set up as a seat-only operator in 2008 following XL Leisure Group's collapse.
The latest operator's demise follows the recent collapses of Goldtrail Holidays and Sun4u.
It is believed Kiss picked up a large number of bookings from the collapse of Goldtrail.
Bob Atkinson, travel expert at holiday price comparison site travelsupermarket said:
"This is sadly yet another collapse in what could become a rash of company failures this autumn."
Budget air operator Kiss Flights has ceased trading, leaving over ten thousand holidaymakers abroad.
A message posted on owner Flight Options' website says: "As of 1700 hours on 17 August the Flight Options group of companies has ceased trading.
"The Civil Aviation Authority have been informed and we are awaiting further advise on the situation Please contact the CAA for a further update www.atol.org.uk.
Kiss offered flights to Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Cyprus, the Canary Islands, Spain and Portugal.
A spokesman for the CAA said: "We are picking up the pieces. People abroad will be fine.
"We will make sure everyone will be able to come back from their holidays.
"The CAA estimates that around 13,000 people are currently overseas - all of them will be able to complete their holidays and return to the UK thanks to the CAA's ATOL protection.
"Around 60,000 people have forward bookings with the company and will be able to claim a full refund for the ATOL-protected elements of their holidays from the CAA.
"Because the company has failed at the height of summer, the CAA is also putting in place arrangements to allow people to travel out on their holidays for the next 24 hours, to minimise confusion and protect passengers.
Advice for Flight Options / Kiss Flights customers with flights leaving the UK before 1800 BST on Wednesday 18 August 2010:
These flights will operate as planned, and passengers should go to the airport and check in as normal.
Advice for Flight Options / Kiss Flights customers who are currently overseas:
The CAA will ensure that ATOL-protected customers are able to fly home as planned; they should therefore arrive at the airport in time to check-in for their flights home as normal.
In order for customers to determine whether they are ATOL protected or not, they should check that they booked a flight with Flight Options / Kiss Flights.
To do this, customers should check the invoice/receipt received at the time the booking was made and paid for.
The company sold only a very small number of package holidays, consequently, in most cases, ATOL protects only the flight element of their holiday.
Accommodation booked independently with other firms is not effected by the failure.
Advice for Flight Options / Kiss Flights customers with forward bookings after 1800 BST on Wednesday 18 August 2010:
Flight Options / Kiss Flights customers are financially protected under ATOL 4233 and should not travel on booked holidays after 18:00 BST on Wednesday 18 August 2010 but instead should make a claim for a refund from the CAA.
Customers who booked through Flight Options / Kiss Flights should seek advice from their travel agents about alternative travel arrangements."
Flight Options was launched in 1995 offering flights to various Mediterranean destinations.
Kiss was set up as a seat-only operator in 2008 following XL Leisure Group's collapse.
The latest operator's demise follows the recent collapses of Goldtrail Holidays and Sun4u.
It is believed Kiss picked up a large number of bookings from the collapse of Goldtrail.
Bob Atkinson, travel expert at holiday price comparison site travelsupermarket said:
"This is sadly yet another collapse in what could become a rash of company failures this autumn."
John
"My lovely car now sold onto a very happy new owner.
I still love this marque and I will still be around, preferred selling to breaking, as a great runner and performer"
"My lovely car now sold onto a very happy new owner.
I still love this marque and I will still be around, preferred selling to breaking, as a great runner and performer"