Europe’s largest regional airline, Flybe has gone into administration, leaving all flights grounded. Flybe has ceased trading “with immediate effect”, leaving thousands of passengers without a flight.
Flybe’s fate was sealed following the collapse of last-minute talks on a bailout from the UK government, along with pressure from the coronavirus outbreak.
“As a result of insolvency proceedings, Flybe has ceased to trade and is no longer able to fly or accept bookings,” administrator EY said in a statement on Thursday. “Unfortunately, it has been necessary to make the majority of the workforce redundant.”
The British airline had more than 210 routes with 8 million passengers a year. In the short term, UK’s Department for Transport has stationed staff at the affected UK airports, to assist passengers who have stranded by the airline’s sudden collapse.
The airline said the majority of Flybe routes continues to be served by alternative options, including bus and trains. Bus and train operators have also been asked to accept Flybe tickets, while some airlines are offering “rescue fares” at a lower price.
“Please do not travel to the airport unless you have booked alternative flights,” a spokesman for the Commission for Aviation Regulation said Thursday. This means most people have few or no options, besides booking alternative flights with other airlines.
It may be possible to make a claim under a travel insurance policy to get reimbursed for the flight, and we would recommend contacting the insurance provider directly for further information.