Low-cost airline Zoom has cancelled flights from Bermuda to the UK from January to May leaving many passengers who had booked flights fuming.

Zoom Airlines quashed rumours in October that it would stop flying to Bermuda in 2008 and was waiting to draw up a new schedule.

A statement from the airline yesterday said increased fuel prices and congestion in New York's JFK airport, where the Bermuda flight connects, meant they had to cancel the winter service.

Yesterday disgruntled passengers contacted The Royal Gazette claiming they had only been told on Wednesday — two weeks before flying — that Zoom's service was no longer running.

Jeremy Cox, a self-employed marine technician, said he received an e-mail at 10.49 a.m. on Wednesday from Zoom Airlines letting him know.

Mr. Cox was planning to visit his parents in England with his wife, two daughters and grandson on January 7, returning on January 28, but was left scrambling after the e-mail.

He said: "I have had to tell my family they are not receiving Christmas presents this year. This has totally ruined Christmas. Letting us know just two weeks before? It's just appalling."

Mr. Cox had to rebook on British Airways for double the price and a week earlier, reschedule his rental car and book a hotel for five days because his parents will not be there when they arrive.

Even though Zoom has promised to refund his tickets, the confusion will cost him almost $15,000.

Lynne Holmes, whose parents flew to Bermuda on December 11 this year, is at a loss after hearing — not from the airlines — but from Meyer-Franklin travel that her parents were stranded.

She said: "This was their Christmas present, but as much as I love my parents they cannot stay here until April."

Mrs. Holmes tried to book a flight on British Airways and it will cost her more than $1,500 — twice what she paid on Zoom.

A spokesperson for Zoom said: "We are only suspending flights between Gatwick and Bermuda over the quieter winter months and the full service will resume in May, 2008.

"We have seen an extraordinary 50 percent increase in fuel costs in the last six months. Our Bermuda service has also been linked with the New York service which has been affected by bad congestion at JFK as a result of the US Government's decision to de-regulate the airport and this is likely to cause further disruption to all airlines in the coming months.

"This would have a knock-on effect to our other flights which we are not prepared to accept.

"We remain very committed to the Gatwick-Bermuda route and have been extremely pleased at the number of bookings on this route since we started operating this year and have taken a high level of bookings for summer 2008.

"When our Bermuda service re-commences, it will not be linked to the New York service and thus any problems with punctuality will be minimised as far as possible."

Zoom began flying to Bermuda in June this year and 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. C Travel, Bermuda's largest travel agency had teamed up with the airline to be the exclusive marketing and sales outlet, however, chief executive officer Carl Paiva was off the Island yesterday and no other comment was received.

Though Jonathan Hinkles, managing director of Zoom Airlines, had said Zoom was going from strength to strength following a turbulent start earlier this year, he would not comment further than the press statement.