Low-cost carrier Zoom cancellation of its flights over the winter season is not a catastrophe, according to its Bermuda travel partner.

Disgruntled passengers received e-mails on Wednesday informing them the airlines would not be flying between Bermuda and Gatwick starting on January 7 until May.

Yesterday, Carl Paiva chief executive officer of C-Travel, said it was not unusual for airlines to cancel flights during the slower months.

Mr. Paiva said: "What I can say is it is not a catastrophe in any way, shape or form.

"Only a few people have been affected – less than 30 on our records.

"We had some situations but they have been re-booked."

He also said that Zoom was cancelling the flights only until March 14 and that in May the airline would be launching two new destinations for Bermuda, one of which is reported to be Fot Lauderdale.

Zoom Airlines was unavailable to confirm this information.

In a statement received yesterday, however, a spokesperson said: "We are only suspending flights between Gatwick and Bermuda over the quieter winter months and the full service will resume in May, 2008."

The low-cost airline, which landed for the first time in June, has been plagued with ballooning numbers of passengers, but also problems.

Delays for hours and overly-long flights have been complaints received by The Royal Gazette from passengers.

The airline recently received its ETOPS (extended-range twin operations) licence, which meant it was no longer required to stay within an hour and half distance from land and could shorten its flights.

And in October, rumours were squashed that Zoom would stop flying to Bermuda in 2008 and said it was waiting to draw up a new schedule. Passengers, however, who were booked on flights this winter will be compensated the price of their tickets and $100 voucher to be used on another Zoom flight.

A 29-year-old British woman who was travelling in February for a wedding said: "I am furious that they told me this less than two months before my dates of travel (February 15-25).

"I paid $507 for my flights with Zoom. Now I'm going to have to pay $905 to B.A to fly on the same dates.

"The $100 voucher Zoom gave me in addition to my refund is just not acceptable.

"I'm $400 out of pocket and I intend to take this up with them and ask for more compensation."