Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said that around 7,000 UK and 2,500 non-UK customers of Silverjet have been affected after the airline ceased operating today (30 May).
The Association”s air travel organisers” licensing (ATOL) scheme covers customers who booked flights plus chauffeur drive or valet parking with Silverjet Aviation Limited, and those who booked flights via a travel agent. Those who booked just a flight are not covered.
”If you purchased a service such as chauffer or valet parking at the same time as the flight, then technically that is a package and therefore all bookings made that way will be protected under ATOL and you will get your money back,” a CAA spokesman told ABTN. ”If you need to get a flight back we will reimburse that cost.”
”Those just with flights, the ATOL scheme doesn”t cover. However, check with your credit card company ” you may be covered under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act which covers insolvency, but it depends which card you”ve got.”
Those who paid with debit card, cash, or cheque are unlikely to be reimbursed.
Find information about claims and alternative carriers operating similar routes on the ATOL website at atol.org.uk.
Silverjet said on its website: ”Other airlines are not under any obligation to honour your unused Silverjet tickets, however, as a courtesy, some airlines may agree 'to get you home' using their flights on a basis specified by them.”
British Airways (BA) is offering customers the opportunity to re-book in the Club World cabin under a special deal.
”BA”s partner agents and TMCs with Silverjet clients can re-book these customers onto BA”s premium leisure fares (D, R or I class) and the airline will waive the advance purchase and minimum Saturday night stay rules to enable customers to travel as per their original plans,” it said in a statement.
Customers and TMCs will need to produce proof of their Silverjet booking and new bookings must be ticketed by 13 June.
Virgin Atlantic is offering Silverjet ticketholders an Upper Class fare of ”759 ($1,500) one-way for Dubai tickets and ”899 for New York tickets in Upper Class, bookable via its contact centre or Heathrow Terminal 3 ticket desk. Fares are also available in Premium Economy and Economy class for both routes.
CAA advises non-UK customers to contact their home country”s aviation/consumer protection organisation.
Silverjet”s Board has appointed administrators for the airline and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Silverjet Aviation Limited, Skylease Limited and Sky People Limited.
”The administrator will be undertaking a review of Silverjet”s assets,” it said in a statement. ”The Board does not believe that there is likely to be any value realised for shareholders.”
Former Silverjet CEO Lawrence Hunt said: ”The Silverjet team has worked exceptionally hard to try and turn this situation around, however with the time available, we were unable to secure the funding required to continue our operations."
The airline employed around 350 staff.