Vancouver, BC (March 27, 2007): Harmony Airways and its packaged vacation company, Harmony Vacations, are ending scheduled service to and from Toronto on March 30, 2007, and all other scheduled flights on April 9, 2007, as the four year old Vancouver-based airline explores other opportunities and business models, including charters.
"This is the restructuring of a going concern company that will continue to treat its customers, suppliers and employees fairly," explained David Ho, Harmony's owner. "I want to be very clear, this is not a bankruptcy. This is not a creditor protection arrangement and this is not a company dissolution.
"Our last scheduled flights to and from Toronto will be on March 30, and scheduled service to all other destinations will end April 9. We wanted to give our passengers as much advance notice as possible, and minimize the impact on their spring break and Easter travel plans."
Harmony will provide full refunds to anyone already booked to travel to or from Toronto after March 30, or any other destination after April 9. The airline will also refund the value of the return portion of tickets for anyone booked to return on Harmony after these dates.
"Passengers who booked their trip through Harmony Vacations and complete their trip before April 30, 2007, will be re-booked by Harmony Vacations," explained Ho. "In the next few days, our website will provide more detailed passenger information."
Ho said increasing operating costs, overcapacity in the market and aggressive price competition from larger carriers prompted Harmony to end its scheduled service and look at other possible business models. Meanwhile, the airline, which began flying in November, 2002, will be giving lay-off notices to most of its 350 staff.
"Harmony, as a company, will continue as we look at new opportunities and business models," noted Ho. "For more than four years, our entire team has worked hard to deliver a memorable travel experience from a locally owned and operated airline. As a result, I want to thank all of the people who traveled with us and made us part of their vacation plans. At the same time, I want to recognize the tremendous work and professionalism of our staff in helping provide a first rate product that thousands of travelers enjoyed over the past four years. I'm very proud of all our people.