In the wake of the announcement by Zoom Airlines that it has halted operations the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA ) is reminding all consumers who booked with a professional travel counselor to contact their agency immediately to arrange alternate transportation.
 
Acting Chief Communication Officer Moscou Cote  says those travellers who booked with a member travel agent registered in Ontario, Quebec or British Columbia, are protected by the consumer fund protection systems in place in those jurisdictions.
 
Advisory
 
“These travellers can contact the following authorities for advice on claims for reimbursement,” Cote says.
 
ONTARIO:  Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) @ 1-888-451-8426/www.tico.on.ca
QUEBEC:  Office de la protection du consommateur @ 1-888-672-2556 / www.opc.gouv.qc.ca
BRITISH COLUMBIA:  Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority @ 1-888-564-9963 / www.bpcpa.ca
 
“In addition,” Cote adds, “any Canadian traveller is encouraged to contact the travel agency they used to book their flight and explore what options might be available.”
 
Important Reminder
 
It is important for consumers to remember that purchases made directly with suppliers and not through a professional travel agent, do not offer the support an agent can offer in time of crisis.
 
“While Zoom was very vocal in their sentiments that they did not support the travel agency community, ACTA takes no joy in their demise,” Cote said.  “This has adversely affected some of our clients and it is not good for the Canadian travel industry as a whole,” he said.
 
“However, this is exactly the kind of situation that proves that the agent distribution model still works.  “Over the last few years, we have heard many false stories about the declining role of travel agents in the marketplace,” Cote said.  “Time and time again we are reminded that travel agencies clearly offer a greater value to both suppliers and consumers alike, and remain the most cost effective distribution model,” he said.
 
The national policy of the Canadian Transportation Agency does not protect consumers from scheduled airline failure.  Canada 3000 and Jetsgo are other examples of failure which significantly impacted hundreds of passengers.
 
“With this most recent airline failure, ACTA will continue to lobby government for greater financial monitoring and disclosure to the public of federally regulated airlines,” Cote said. “In addition there continues to be a concern for consumers in those provinces in which there is no consumer protection fund.”
 
ACTA is a national trade association representing the interest of about 2,600 travel agencies of all sizes, employing more than 18,000 travel professionals in communities throughout the country.  It is the largest and most comprehensive representative of retail travel trade in Canada and is a member of the World Travel Agents Associations Alliance (WTAAA).