Transatlantic airlines are stepping into the void left by the collapse of Zoom, with extra flights on routes between the UK and Canada.

Transatlantic airlines are stepping into the void left by the collapse of Zoom, with extra flights on routes between the UK and Canada.

Canadian Affair has increased its capacity by 100,000 seats to cope with the demand for passengers planning to travel to Canada next summer who have yet to book but who find there is one less airline in the market.

Flyglobespan announced its summer schedule to Canada last week expecting a boost from the demise of Zoom and from next year's Homecoming celebrations.

Canadian Affair has already taken 7500 bookings from Zoom customers who were seeking alternative flights. An extra 15 flights have also been added to its current schedule to take stranded Zoom passengers back home on their return flights.

Around 40,000 customers were affected by the fall of Zoom with the airline's owners blaming the rising cost of fuel and saying they think the majority should get their money back.

The flights over the next two weeks will be on the Glasgow, Manchester and Gatwick to Toronto routes.

Next year extra flights, on top of the scheduled 65 a week, will operate from the three UK airports to Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal as rival airlines look to take up some of the Zoom market share.

Kathryn Munro, spokeswoman for Canadian Affair, said: "There's been an enormous demand for immediate travel, but this is now quietening down and we believe that everyone with immediate travel plans has now been re-booked.

"Passengers with winter and summer 2009 bookings will continue to come in as people realise who their travel plans were with and now the initial rush is over.

"We expect this to continue for the next week or so, especially as tour operators and agents have still to contact many passengers with affected travel dates not in the immediate weeks and months. Our reservations centre and internet site have been working non stop because of the volume of demand."

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic also flew many Zoom passengers to their destinations after the airline, owned by Scottish brothers Hugh and John Boyle, went bust last week. Some airlines were accused of charging inflated prices to passengers desperate to complete their journey.

Zoom debts are estimated to reach £25m with airports, aircraft leasing firms and fuel companies owed substantial sums of money.

Virgin Atlantic has begun advertising special one-way fares between Heathrow to USA destinations for passengers who were already booked on Zoom Airlines.

Prices are between £199 and £249 including taxes and charges.

British Airways is offering a special half price one-way fare for cetain customers who have been stranded.