Manchester passengers protected as Flight Options collapses

Manchester –based holidaymakers currently stranded on holiday following the collapse of Flight Option Ltd, the parent company of Kiss Flights, have been assured that they will be able to get home and that their money is safe.

Kiss Flights sold seats on Viking Airlines in Manchester and operated low-cost routes to Greece, Egypt, Turkey and the Canary Islands.

Around 13,000 people are currently overseas and the airline flew around 200 people from Manchester each day.

The Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement: "Around 60,000 people have forward bookings with the company and will be able to claim a full refund for the ATOL-protected elements of their holiday from the CAA.

"Because the company has failed at the height of summer, the CAA is also putting in place arrangements to allow people to travel out on their holidays for the next 24 hours, to minimise confusion and protect passengers. The CAA will be arranging repatriation for all Flight Options customers in line with the scheduled end of their holiday.

"The company sold only a very small number of package holidays, consequently, in most cases, ATOL protects only the flight element of their holiday. Accommodation booked independently with other firms is not affected by the failure."

A statement on Manchester Airport’s website said: “ We are encouraging those people who are concerned to contact the Civil Aviation Authority. Flight Options customers who are currently abroad and experiencing difficulties should contact the CAA for more information on 0044 161 444 5811. Those with forward bookings requiring general advice about refunds under the ATOL scheme should go to the CAA website or can contact the CAA on 0844 571 7262.”