Skyjet UK ceases trading as confusion continues over the plight
of passengers held to ransom by Comtel
On Thursday 17 November, Astonbury
Ltd (trading as Skyjet UK) announced it had ceased trading.
The Essex based tour operator is reported to have sold a number of
seats on flights with the troubled Comtel Air whose flight from
Amritsar to Birmingham was grounded at Vienna airport earlier this
week.
Those who had booked with Skyjet UK
will have the benefit of protection under the ATOL scheme which is
administered by the CAA. The CAA says that an estimated 200
Skyjet UK passengers are currently abroad and it is working to
repatriate these people. Holidaymakers who are yet to
travel will be protected by the ATOL scheme and will need to apply
to the CAA for a refund.
On Tuesday afternoon news broke
of a Comtel Air flight grounded in Vienna by the Spanish
carrier Mint Lineas Aereas. The grounding of some 180
passengers travelling from Amritsar in India to Birmingham
International came about as a result of financial issues between
the airline, the carrier and tour operators and travel agents who
had booked passengers onto flights with the airline.
Passengers were subsequently held to ransom and asked to raise over
£23,000 in cash so the flight could continue to its destination
airport. There were reports of passengers being lead to ATMs
which subsequently ran out of money. Passengers made it to
Birmingham several days late after reportedly paying a further
£130.00 each.
Comtel Air has now cancelled its
daily flights from Birmingham to Amritsar.
This is a simplification of the law and, should you be faced with
an issue following an accident out of your home jurisdiction,
always make sure you have good advice from someone experienced in
this area of law. For further information, please contact
Christopher
Deacon in the
Travel team in
Southampton at
christopher.deacon@bllaw.co.uk or
call him on 023 8085 7399.
