News / International
AirZim passengers chucked out of Gatwick hotel
21 Dec 2011 at 08:56hrs | Views
Harare bound Air Zimbabwe passengers, who have been stranded at Gatwick airport for over a week, were on Monday night chucked out of their hotel for non payment of bills.
For two days over hundred passengers were refusing to vacate the 4 star Hilton hotel. They had been staying there while the airline was trying to settle the $1.2 million debt to have one of its long haul aircraft released.
But on Monday night hotel management and security moved door to door, evicting the passengers as Air Zimbabwe had not paid the hotel bill.
The Boeing 767, which was impounded by American General Supplies (AGS) when it landed from Harare at Gatwick a week ago, is still being held at the airport. The aircraft was seized via a US court injunction by the aircraft parts suppliers, for the unpaid debt for spares delivered to the airline. Lawyers representing AGS insist the plane will not be released until the money Air Zim says they have paid, appears in their account.
Engineers at the airport have also told passengers that even if the money was to reach the American company this week, it would take some days to service the plane as it has remained on the ground for more than 36 hours.
On Monday, Air Zimbabwe officials at Gatwick were giving out cheque refunds to some of the passengers who had booked direct with them. But those who had booked via travel agencies were being told to approach the agents for refunds. Stranded passenger and SW Radio Africa presenter, Ezra Sibanda, said: 'I've since deposited my cheque, so if it clears maybe I might make other travel arrangements, but I've heard from some people that the last time this happened, passengers' cheques bounced.'
He denied that some passengers were rebooked onto other airlines. Air Zimbabwe was in May this year suspended from international financial and flight booking services over a US$280,000 debt by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
'We were informed these airlines needed cash before accepting the passengers. Air Zimbabwe did not have a cent. So if there are passengers who have travelled, they probably used their own money,' Sibanda.
The popular radio DJ said passengers sharply criticized the Zimbabwe embassy staff in London for failing to help them. Most felt they were let down by their embassy because it did not provide moral support to passengers who were sick, travelling home for funerals or the young. A letter written by the passengers last week Friday said they were being let down by their embassy and their Ambassador.
'Having paid our hard earned money in good faith in exchange for a flight back home, we find ourselves reduced to destitutes, a class no one is prepared to listen to, let alone help,' the letter said. It was copied to the Transport Ministry and Embassy in London.
'At least someone at the Embassy should have come to talk to the passengers because the reputation of the country was at stake. All what the embassy staff told us was that someone will come to Gatwick to see what is happening. But nobody came and they forget they are in London to serve both the government and Zimbabweans in the UK. Other embassies seem to take care of the interests of their people, but ours don't seem to care,' Sibanda added.
SW Radio Africa – on line 24 hours a day at www.swradioafrica.com and daily broadcasts on 4880 kHz in the 60m band between 7 - 9 pm Zimbabwe time. Twitter : Facebook : RSS feed You can now get SW Radio Africa on the Tunein Radio smart phone app.
For two days over hundred passengers were refusing to vacate the 4 star Hilton hotel. They had been staying there while the airline was trying to settle the $1.2 million debt to have one of its long haul aircraft released.
But on Monday night hotel management and security moved door to door, evicting the passengers as Air Zimbabwe had not paid the hotel bill.
The Boeing 767, which was impounded by American General Supplies (AGS) when it landed from Harare at Gatwick a week ago, is still being held at the airport. The aircraft was seized via a US court injunction by the aircraft parts suppliers, for the unpaid debt for spares delivered to the airline. Lawyers representing AGS insist the plane will not be released until the money Air Zim says they have paid, appears in their account.
Engineers at the airport have also told passengers that even if the money was to reach the American company this week, it would take some days to service the plane as it has remained on the ground for more than 36 hours.
On Monday, Air Zimbabwe officials at Gatwick were giving out cheque refunds to some of the passengers who had booked direct with them. But those who had booked via travel agencies were being told to approach the agents for refunds. Stranded passenger and SW Radio Africa presenter, Ezra Sibanda, said: 'I've since deposited my cheque, so if it clears maybe I might make other travel arrangements, but I've heard from some people that the last time this happened, passengers' cheques bounced.'
He denied that some passengers were rebooked onto other airlines. Air Zimbabwe was in May this year suspended from international financial and flight booking services over a US$280,000 debt by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
'We were informed these airlines needed cash before accepting the passengers. Air Zimbabwe did not have a cent. So if there are passengers who have travelled, they probably used their own money,' Sibanda.
The popular radio DJ said passengers sharply criticized the Zimbabwe embassy staff in London for failing to help them. Most felt they were let down by their embassy because it did not provide moral support to passengers who were sick, travelling home for funerals or the young. A letter written by the passengers last week Friday said they were being let down by their embassy and their Ambassador.
'Having paid our hard earned money in good faith in exchange for a flight back home, we find ourselves reduced to destitutes, a class no one is prepared to listen to, let alone help,' the letter said. It was copied to the Transport Ministry and Embassy in London.
'At least someone at the Embassy should have come to talk to the passengers because the reputation of the country was at stake. All what the embassy staff told us was that someone will come to Gatwick to see what is happening. But nobody came and they forget they are in London to serve both the government and Zimbabweans in the UK. Other embassies seem to take care of the interests of their people, but ours don't seem to care,' Sibanda added.
SW Radio Africa – on line 24 hours a day at www.swradioafrica.com and daily broadcasts on 4880 kHz in the 60m band between 7 - 9 pm Zimbabwe time. Twitter : Facebook : RSS feed You can now get SW Radio Africa on the Tunein Radio smart phone app.
Source - SWRadio
