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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Airline collapse hits passengers | Airline collapse hits passengers |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A budget airline which operates routes from the UK has filed for bankruptcy. | A budget airline which operates routes from the UK has filed for bankruptcy. |
| All SkyEurope flights have been suspended with immediate effect and a number of rival airlines are offering "rescue offers" to stranded passengers. | All SkyEurope flights have been suspended with immediate effect and a number of rival airlines are offering "rescue offers" to stranded passengers. |
| Slovakia-based SkyEurope, which flew out of Luton and Manchester, has warned it "may not be possible" to offer refunds to those who booked directly. | Slovakia-based SkyEurope, which flew out of Luton and Manchester, has warned it "may not be possible" to offer refunds to those who booked directly. |
| But customers who paid more than £100, using a credit card, should be able to claim money back from the card issuer. | But customers who paid more than £100, using a credit card, should be able to claim money back from the card issuer. |
| Those who had booked the flights as part of a holiday package should be protected by the air travel organisation, Atol. | Those who had booked the flights as part of a holiday package should be protected by the air travel organisation, Atol. |
| Airline collapses such as this highlight the need for a reform of the regulatory system regarding refunds Frances Tuke, Abta Q&A: Your rights Airline losses 'hit $1bn a month' | Airline collapses such as this highlight the need for a reform of the regulatory system regarding refunds Frances Tuke, Abta Q&A: Your rights Airline losses 'hit $1bn a month' |
| From Luton, SkyEurope flew to Prague in the Czech Republic as well as to the Slovakian destinations of Poprad, Kosice and Bratislava. From Manchester, it flew to Bratislava and Kosice. | From Luton, SkyEurope flew to Prague in the Czech Republic as well as to the Slovakian destinations of Poprad, Kosice and Bratislava. From Manchester, it flew to Bratislava and Kosice. |
| "We are still trying to find out just how many Britons are caught up in this," said Frances Tuke, spokeswoman for travel agents group Abta. | "We are still trying to find out just how many Britons are caught up in this," said Frances Tuke, spokeswoman for travel agents group Abta. |
| "Airline collapses such as this highlight the need for a reform of the regulatory system regarding refunds." | "Airline collapses such as this highlight the need for a reform of the regulatory system regarding refunds." |
| 'Cash burn' | 'Cash burn' |
| SkyEurope which has been struggling to restructure its debt and to cope with falling revenues in the economic downturn, cited the "lack of sufficient interim funding to finance ongoing operations". | SkyEurope which has been struggling to restructure its debt and to cope with falling revenues in the economic downturn, cited the "lack of sufficient interim funding to finance ongoing operations". |
| Vienna international airport had stopped servicing the airline's departing flights in mid-August after it missed a deadline for paying outstanding debts. | Vienna international airport had stopped servicing the airline's departing flights in mid-August after it missed a deadline for paying outstanding debts. |
| And Prague's airport had said it would not service SkyEurope flights starting Tuesday if it failed to pay what it owed. | And Prague's airport had said it would not service SkyEurope flights starting Tuesday if it failed to pay what it owed. |
| The collapse comes as the International Air Transport Association (Iata) said that airlines worldwide were likely to have lost more than $6bn (£3.7bn) in the first half of 2009. | The collapse comes as the International Air Transport Association (Iata) said that airlines worldwide were likely to have lost more than $6bn (£3.7bn) in the first half of 2009. |
| This figure - an average of $1bn a month - is double the amount Iata said in December that airlines would lose during the whole of 2009. | This figure - an average of $1bn a month - is double the amount Iata said in December that airlines would lose during the whole of 2009. |
| The global recession has had a major impact on the industry, with business and leisure customers cutting back on travel, and companies transporting far less cargo. | The global recession has had a major impact on the industry, with business and leisure customers cutting back on travel, and companies transporting far less cargo. |
| Rising oil prices have also made fuel more expensive, "intensifying airline cash burn," Iata said. | Rising oil prices have also made fuel more expensive, "intensifying airline cash burn," Iata said. |
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