Former Apprentice NZ candidate donates website income to passengers left $120,000 out of pocket.

The new owner of flydirect.co.nz promises that all income earned within the first year of operation will be donated to people who booked with failed travel company Fly Direct Limited before it went into liquidation.

“I’ve been the victim of liquidations – most of the time the consumer is last on the list and lose everything they put in. I thought this was my chance to help others out”, Chris Whiteside the new owner of flydirect.co.nz said.

Fly Direct Limited, which was to provide ski holiday packages into Wanaka from Christchurch and Wellington, was placed in liquidation before its first snow season flight leaving around 500 people that booked with the company out of pocket.

The new owner, Chris Whiteside, previously a candidate on TVNZ’s The Apprentice NZ, purchased the site off liquidators. flydirect.co.nz is now running as a travel booking service and Mr Whiteside has announced he will donate all booking commission income to the customers who lost money.

“Liquidators reported at least $120,000 is owed to passengers, however it is not yet known if there will be a dividend to unsecured creditors. If people want to lend a hand and get great travel deals they should books flights, car rental and accommodation through flydirect.co.nz.

I promise every cent of income from the first year of operation will be given to jilted passengers.”

Mr Whiteside said he would be covering all costs associated with running the site and all booking commission income generated from the site for the next year would be paid out to the liquidators.

“Hopefully this gesture will help some people out and get them a portion of their holiday money back”, Mr Whiteside said.

A lack of sufficient sales to cover forward commitments has been blamed for the failure of Fly Direct Limited.

Visit www.flydirect.co.nz when you are booking travel to help these guys out!

ENDS