Zoom Airlines raises number of flights to Canadian cities

16 May, 2008: Zoom Airlines Incorporated, the low-fare, scheduled transatlantic airline has increased the number of its flights to cities in Canada following huge demand on the routes.

The airline, based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, will operate twice-weekly flights to Toronto departing on Mondays and Wednesdays and a weekly flight to Vancouver departing on Thursdays.

The summer programme has started offering a full scheduled service, with fares from as low as £329 return including all taxes to Toronto and from £429 return including all taxes to Vancouver, the website icwales.icnetwork.co.uk has reported.

Lori Burke, marketing manager of Zoom Airlines, was quoted as saying: “We are delighted to be doubling our frequency out of Cardiff to Toronto this summer. The increase year-on-year in passenger numbers since we first started operating from Cardiff in the summer of 2005 has been exceptional. This additional summer service is testament to the level of demand from the Welsh travelling public for our low-cost high-quality flights.”

According to Patrick Duffy, managing director at Cardiff International Airport, “Zoom Airlines adding an extra Toronto service is testament to the strength of the long-haul market within Wales and the desire to travel to North America.”

Flights can be booked at www. flyzoom.com or on 0870 240 0055.

Media reports said Zoom Airlines would launch, in the second week of May 2008, its first services to Italy with twice-weekly flights from Toronto and weekly flights from Montreal, both serving Rome. This would mark Zoom’s second entry into continental Europe since Paris is already served year-round from Montreal and Toronto and seasonally from Calgary and Vancouver.

Zoom Airlines, founded in May 2002, operates year-round scheduled services to Europe, as well as charter services to South America, Caribbean, and Southern United States destinations with Canadian tour operators.

The carrier, started by two Scottish brothers John and Hugh Boyle to serve Canada’s leisure travel market, has now a fleet of 5 aircraft (Boeing 767s and 757s).

It has up a subsidiary in the United Kingdom with 2 Boeing 767-300s to operate flights between London’s Gatwick Airport and North America, including Bermuda, New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport and various Canadian cities.

According to statistics available with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of the United Kingdom, Zoom Airlines carried 42,000 passengers in 2007 at an average load factor of 73.7%.

By the end of June 2008, the airline will start new services to Fort Lauderdale and San Diego – by operating twice-weekly flights.