Troubled British regional airline FlyBe collapsed for the second time in three years on Saturday, putting jobs on the line and leaving passengers stranded.
The airline initially went bankrupt in March 2020, cutting 2,400 jobs following it led restrictions imposed as a result of the coronavirus to strike travel industry.
The airline was re-launched in April last year, operating on many of the same routes from Belfast, Birmingham and London Heathrow.
The defunct airline said, in a statement, that it has once more summoned bankruptcy accountants, and warned passengers not to travel to airports where all flights have now been cancelled. flightsincluding its international flights from Switzerland and the Netherlands.
Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority said passengers should “make alternative travel arrangements themselves via other airlines, rail or bus operators”, leaving customers with the option of potentially long and expensive journeys home.
“It is always sad to see an airline falter, and we know that Flybe’s decision to stop operating will be distressing for all of its employees and customers,” said Paul Smith, Director of Consumers at the Civil Aviation Authority.
FlyBe returned to air operations less than 12 months ago with a plan to operate up to 530 flights per week on 23 routes.
Time Opco, which is linked to US hedge fund Cyrus Capital, bought Flybe’s business and assets in April 2021.
The British government said its immediate priority would be to support anyone trying to return home and those who have lost their jobs.
“This remains a challenging environment for airlines, old and new, as they recover from the pandemic, and we are aware of the impact this will have on Flybe passengers and staff,” she added.
“The Civil Aviation Authority provides advice to passengers to help them make their journeys as smooth and affordable as possible,” she said.
She added that most of FlyBe’s destinations were within the UK, so alternative transportation was available.
(Associated Press)
