The move began when the Canadian-UK carrier, one of the sponsors of the Elite League in which ice hockey team the Belfast Giants play, had a plane detained at Calgary airport in Canada because of financial problems.

More than 100 Zoom passengers due to board the Cardiff-Belfast-Vancouver flight in Belfast were yesterday afternoon left stranded.

A spokeswoman from Belfast International Airport said passengers due to fly on flight Z4467 retrieved their luggage after being advised by Zoom the flight was not operational – and to seek bookings with alternative airlines.

She said: "There was no great furore, I think the passengers were just glad to be told what was happening.

"Zoom was a great Canadian service from Belfast International and there are no other flights now offered to Vancouver."

However, holidaymakers spoke of their devastation at not being able to get to Vancouver.

Comber man Robert McCracken, 59, said he and his 82-year-old mother Betty, were left "devastated at the news Zoom would no longer be taking them on holiday next Monday".

Mr McCracken said the eight-hour flight from Gatwick to Winnipeg was "perfect" for his elderly mother.

The pair had planned to travel over to see her brother Terry, who has been in Canada for the last 50 years.

"My mother is so excited about going and is now devastated," he said.

"We will still be going of course but it will now be a longer flight with connections. We planned to go for 16 days. Now that might have to change."

UK-Canadian Zoom blamed its problems on the "horrendous" price of aviation fuel – which had added $50m to annual fuel bills – and the economic slowdown.

Zoom employs 450 staff in Canada and 260 staff in the UK.

It operated flights from Belfast, London Gatwick, Glasgow, Manchester, Cardiff , Paris and Rome.

It flew to eight destinations in Canada, New York, San Diego, Fort Lauderdale and Bermuda.

The airline, which was founded by Scottish brothers John and Hugh Boyle, attempted to seek creditor protection by filing legal notices of intention to appoint an administrator in both the UK and Canada with the hopes of being able to carry on flights.

In a statement Hugh and John Boyle, said: "We deeply regret the fact that we have been forced to suspend all Zoom operations. It is a tragic day for our passengers and staff.

"We are desperately sorry for the inconvenience and disappointment that this will cause passengers and those who have booked flights.

"We have done everything we can to support the airline and left no stone unturned to secure a re-financing package that would have kept our aircraft flying."