Mais Dais, As Another Tour Operator Takes A Dive

The prevailing high fuel costs have claimed another airline tour operator, leaving passengers panicking over how they will get home.

Dublin-based Futura Gael, a charter flight operator to the Mediterranean and eastern Europe, has suspended all of its flights leaving passengers stranded.

Panorama, Budget Travel, Sunway Holidays and Falcon Holidays mostly used the operator, and the holiday companies are now frantically searching for alternative flights for its customers.

A spokesman from the Irish Tour Operators Federation said: "It is our members' intention to maintain flights as scheduled. However, where alternatives result in a flight change then our members will be in touch, via travel agents or directly, over the coming days to confirm any new flight arrangements.

"While we currently seek to rearrange flights at short notice, we would ask our customers to bear with us."

Futura Gael is the third flight operator to go under in the last two months. Budget airline Zoom crashed and burned last week, leaving thousands of people north and south unable to take their budget transatlantic flights.

While at the end of August, Mayo-based Great Escapes travel agency also collapsed.

(DW/JM)