Airline bankrupt; thousands stranded

SAVITAS WINES

28 September 2018

McLAREN VALE’S LOST BUOY WINES SETS SAIL ON THE NEXT LEG OF ITS JOURNEY

SAVITAS WINES

28 September 2018

McLAREN VALE’S LOST BUOY WINES SETS SAIL ON THE NEXT LEG OF ITS JOURNEY

VITAS WINES

28 September 2018

McLAREN VALE’S LOST BUOY WINES SETS SAIL ON THE NEXT LEG OF ITS JOURNEY

SAVITAS

mber 2018

McLAREN VALE’S LOST BUOY WINES SETS SAIL ON THE NEXT LEG OF ITS JOURNEY

If you hold tickets with Primera Air, I have some bad news for you. You won't be flying anywhere.

The Icelandic-owned, Danish-based budget airline has ceased operations, affecting thousands of passenger with paid-for tickets and bookings.

Two flights from London Stansted to Washington and New York due to leave on Monday night were among those cancelled and a flight from Birmingham to Malaga was already in the air when the news broke.

Stansted Airport issued a statement telling passengers booked with the airline not to come to the airport.

The airline, which began as a short-haul operator in Europe and the Middle East, failed after 14 years in operation.

It had established itself as a low-cost, long-haul airline out of Europe and the UK, with one-way fares from £99, operating to Newark Liberty and Boston from London Stansted and Birmingham as well as Paris, Travel Mole reported.


Pic: Valentin Hintikka 

In a message to customers, the airline said it had been working to secure long-term financing but had no other choice but to file for bankruptcy.

It blamed tough competition, high-fuel costs and the loss of an aircraft due to corrosion problems.

On its website it thanked customers for their loyalty. "On this sad day we are saying goodbye to all of you," it said.

The BBC reported the airline had 15 aircraft in operation.

The Civil Aviation Authority in Britain issued advice for affected passengers, telling them the airline was not covered by its ATOL protection scheme.

It said passengers who booked with a credit, charge or debit card might be able to make a claim against their card provider, but are likely to be asked for a negative response letter. It said this letter will be published shortly.

Passengers who are already overseas must make their own arrangements to return home and are being advised to contact their travel insurer or agent for assistance. The final flight to land was PF596 from Malaga to Copenhagen.