Reports in a Canadian newspaper are saying that the company has recieved backing from the Bank of Scotland to start a new UK based airline. Here’s the story…
By ANNE HOWLAND
Low-fare Ottawa carrier Zoom Airlines will be expanding its business to the U.K. with some financial help from the Bank of Scotland.
Zoom, which operates low-cost flights between Canada and the U.K., yesterday announced that Bank of Scotland Growth Equity has acquired a minority stake in the airline as part of a $12-million investment package.
As a result of the investment, Zoom — owned by travel entrepreneur Hugh Boyle — plans to expand its operations to other worldwide destinations.
The investment will provide additional funds for the start-up of a U.K.-based airline, as well as assist with a rolling fuel hedging package.
“For such a prestigious organization as Bank of Scotland to take an equity stake in our airline is a tremendous vote of confidence in the success of Zoom which, for the past three years, has pioneered the low-fares concept on a transatlantic basis between eight Canadian destinations and six European airports,” said Boyle.
David Wilson, director of Bank of Scotland Growth Equity who negotiated the deal, said: “We view Zoom as a successful and innovative carrier with a considerable reputation for quality as well as value for money.”
By: EK. - 5th August 2006 at 15:45
If that was the case you could book flights on their website with a GLA departure, but you cant.
At the moment. We don’t know what this new airlines plans are but I seen that its UK-Caribbean routes they are looking at. If it is I would say it’s a fairly safe guess that Go Travel Direct UK will be re-launched.
By: by738 - 5th August 2006 at 15:40
Could be what they are doing now.
If that was the case you could book flights on their website with a GLA departure, but you cant.
By: EK. - 5th August 2006 at 15:38
Im sure if there was enough demand with this particular tour operator (which I suspect there wasnt)- Go Travel Direct could have organised direct flights even with another carrier.
Could be what they are doing now.
By: by738 - 5th August 2006 at 15:24
Yea because they couldn’t get the flights to go direct from Glasgow to the Caribbean. Because Zoom is Canadian the flights had to go Glasgow-Canada-Caribbean.
Im sure if there was enough demand with this particular tour operator (which I suspect there wasnt)- Go Travel Direct could have organised direct flights even with another carrier.
By: EK. - 5th August 2006 at 15:02
Havent Go Travel Direct ditched GLA ? the travel shop is boarded up and GLA no longer features on their website.
Yea because they couldn’t get the flights to go direct from Glasgow to the Caribbean. Because Zoom is Canadian the flights had to go Glasgow-Canada-Caribbean.
By: by738 - 5th August 2006 at 14:58
Go Travel Direct all have a pretty big presence here.
Havent Go Travel Direct ditched GLA ? the travel shop is boarded up and GLA no longer features on their website.
By: EK. - 5th August 2006 at 14:21
Didn’t know Zoom are no longer Motherwell’s shirt sponsor. They is occasionally a link on the Zoom Airlines website to Motherwell’s site and vice versa.
By: Bhoy - 5th August 2006 at 14:14
Yes, Mr Boyle was indeed the Chairman at Motherwell FC at one stage, and Zoom were their shirt sponsors when the airline started up. Although they’re no longer on the shirts, they do have a massive hoarding covering the roof of one of the Stands.
By: Ren Frew - 5th August 2006 at 12:18
With a name like Hugh Boyle I sense Glaswegian origins, so wouldn’t be surprised if that’s where his UK loyalties lie.
1L.
The Boyle brothers have been big names in the Scottish travel business for years now, but as we’ve seen with Direct Holidays and Zoom they are very much aware of the global market…
Perhaps we’ll see a new lo-co airport developed down Motherwell way… ? 😀
By: GAZGLA - 5th August 2006 at 12:10
With a name like Hugh Boyle I sense Glaswegian origins, so wouldn’t be surprised if that’s where his UK loyalties lie.
1L.
Yeh i think the Boyle brothers are from Glasgow. But i’m sure i read on Pprune that this will be a LGW based long haul airline.
Gaz
By: OneLeft - 5th August 2006 at 12:08
With a name like Hugh Boyle I sense Glaswegian origins, so wouldn’t be surprised if that’s where his UK loyalties lie.
1L.
By: by738 - 5th August 2006 at 11:57
Hope this new airlines is based in Glasgow and provides some much needed European city routes. His last three start ups Direct Holidays, Zoom Airlines and Go Travel Direct all have a pretty big presence here.
Cant seethat happening with their new codeshare with GSM
By: EK. - 5th August 2006 at 11:38
Hope this new airlines is based in Glasgow and provides some much needed European city routes. His last three start ups Direct Holidays, Zoom Airlines and Go Travel Direct all have a pretty big presence here.
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August 5, 2006 at 11:28 am