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Flybmi collapses, blaming Brexit uncertainty Flybmi collapses, blaming Brexit uncertainty
(about 2 hours later)
British regional airline Flybmi has collapsed, cancelling all flights with immediate effect. It blamed Brexit for creating uncertainty in the industry. The British airline Flybmi has gone bust, cancelling all flights with immediate effect and blaming Brexit as the main cause of its collapse.
The company, which employs 376 staff and operates more than 600 scheduled flights a week, announced that it had gone into administration. Earlier reports had suggested it was looking for further funding, but the company said the challenges created by Brexit had proved “insurmountable”. The company, which employs 376 staff and operates more than 600 flights a week, said it faced “several difficulties” in recent weeks including spikes in fuel and carbon costs, the latter arising from the EU’s recent decision to exclude UK airlines from full participation in the Emissions Trading Scheme.
A spokesperson for Flybmi said: “It is with a heavy heart that we have made this unavoidable announcement. The airline has faced several difficulties, including recent spikes in fuel and carbon costs, the latter arising from the EU’s recent decision to exclude UK airlines from full participation in the Emissions Trading Scheme. These issues have undermined efforts to move the airline into profit. “Current trading and future prospects have also been seriously affected by the uncertainty created by the Brexit process, which has led to our inability to secure valuable flying contracts in Europe and lack of confidence around bmi’s ability to continue flying between destinations in Europe,” the airline said in a statement.
“Against this background, it has become impossible for the airline’s shareholders to continue their extensive programme of funding into the business, despite investment totalling over £40m in the last six years. We sincerely regret that this course of action has become the only option open to us, but the challenges, particularly those created by Brexit, have proven to be insurmountable.”
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“Current trading and future prospects have also been seriously affected by the uncertainty created by the Brexit process, which has led to our inability to secure valuable flying contracts in Europe and lack of confidence around bmi’s ability to continue flying between destinations in Europe. Earlier reports had suggested the East Midlands-based airline was looking for further funding to survive. Instead it was forced into an “unavoidable” announcement. A spokesperson for Flybmi said: “Our situation mirrors wider difficulties in the regional airline industry which have been well documented.”
“Additionally, our situation mirrors wider difficulties in the regional airline industry which have been well documented.” A Downing Street source said that while the company had highlighted Brexit there were lots of reasons cited for the airline’s failure in their statement.
The company, part of a wider airline holding company Airline Investments Limited (AIL) group and based at East Midlands airport, operated scheduled passenger services to 24 destinations, including Brussels, Leeds, Munich and Bristol using its fleet of 17 Embraer jets. Last year the airline ran 29,000 flights carrying 522,000 passengers. Flybmi, part of a wider holding company Airline Investments Limited Group, operated scheduled passenger services to 24 destinations, including Brussels, Milan, Munich and Hamburg using its fleet of 17 Embraer jets. Last year the airline operated 29,000 flights carrying 522,000 passengers.
A Downing Street source said that while the company had highlighted Brexit, there were lots of reasons cited for the airline’s failure in their statement. Passengers about to board a flight to Munich from Bristol on Saturday were told their flight had been cancelled after they had checked in and gone through security. Richard Edwards, from West Sussex, is on a skiing holiday in Austria with his wife and three children and was due to fly back with Flybmi from Munich.
Passengers about to board a flight to Munich from Bristol on Saturday were told their flight had been cancelled after they had checked in and gone through security. One tweeted: “Our flybmi from Bristol to Munich (which had previously been changed from Southampton) was cancelled with no explanation after we had gone through security!” He later added that he had arrived in Munich, having flown with Lufthansa from Heathrow. He said: “We had gone through security at Bristol Airport when there was an announcement saying our flight had been cancelled. They laid on taxis to Heathrow and booked us on a Lufthansa flight to Munich. I don’t know how we will get back yet. I’m not confident Flybmi will be able to sort it.”
Another tweeted: “My flight with flybmi on the 19 Mar is up the swanny then. Charity event to be revisited as and when I get official word.” Erica Fairs, from the Forest of Dean, was stranded in Edinburgh by the airline’s collapse. She said: “My children are with my ex-husband and I need to be back on Monday to pick them up. I have heard nothing from Flybmi and I’m going to have to book some flights with another airline. What was really weird is this week I have been trying check in online for my return flight without success. It let me check in for my outbound but not my inbound one.”
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The company’s planes that were stationed in Brussels were recalled. Aircrew were told not to come to work and those due to be abroad for the weekend were flown back home. The company’s planes that were stationed in in Brussels were recalled. Aircrew were told not to turn up for work and those staff due to be abroad for the weekend were flown back home. Passengers affected were told not to go to the airport unless they had rebooked flights with alternative providers, as Flybmi said it is not able to buy or rearrange journeys for its customers.
The Civil Aviation Authority said that passengers who paid by credit card may be protected from their financial loss as would those with travel insurance which covered “scheduled airline failure”. The statement from Flybmi also said: “Our employees have worked extremely hard over the last few years and we would like to thank them for their dedication to the company, as well as all our loyal customers who have flown with us over the last six years.”
They advised people who booked directly with the airline to contact their card issuer and said they would publish advice for passengers who had lost their flights on how to get a refund on their website. The Civil Aviation Authority said that passengers who paid by credit card may be protected from financial loss as would those with travel insurance which covered “scheduled airline failure”. They advised people who booked directly with the airline to contact their card issuer. They said they would publish advice on their website on how to get a refund for passengers who had lost their flights.
British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) general secretary Brian Strutton said: “The collapse of Flybmi is devastating news for all employees. Regrettably Balpa had no warning or any information from the company at all. British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) general secretary Brian Strutton said: “The collapse of Flybmi is devastating news for all employees. Regrettably Balpa had no warning or any information from the company at all. Our immediate steps will be to support Flybmi pilots and explore with the directors and administrators whether their jobs can be saved.”
“Our immediate steps will be to support Flybmi pilots and explore with the directors and administrators whether their jobs can be saved.” Rory Boland of the consumer organisation Which? said: “This is terrible news for Flybmi passengers, who will be seeking urgent advice on what steps to take. Some customers have claimed that tickets were being sold in the hours before the airline went bust, knowing full well those tickets would never be honoured, and passengers will rightly be outraged if this is proved to be the case.
The statement from Flybmi added: “It has become impossible for the airline’s shareholders to continue their extensive programme of funding into the business, despite investment totalling over £40m in the last six years. “As all future flights have been cancelled, Flybmi customers should explore their options for refunds. If you purchased your flight as part of a package you should be ATOL protected, which means you should get a refund. However, if you didn’t book as part of a package you may be able to claim the cost back through your travel insurance or credit card issuer, but it depends on your circumstances. You can visit which.co.uk for more advice on your rights.”
“We sincerely regret that this course of action has become the only option open to us, but the challenges, particularly those created by Brexit, have proven to be insurmountable. Our employees have worked extremely hard over the last few years and we would like to thank them for their dedication to the company, as well as all our loyal customers who have flown with us over the last six years.”
On Twitter, East Midlands Airport said: “Please note, all flybmi flights cancelled following the company’s announcement that it has ceased operating.”
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