HELLO, NOW GET OFF THE PLANE

Along-haul budget carrier went out of business so suddenly this week that passengers waiting to take off were told to leave the aircraft and reclaim their luggage. The Danish-owned Primera Air said in a statement that it was ceasing operations as of Tuesday October 2, but it effectively shut down on Monday, cancelling seven flights that were scheduled that day between the US and Europe.

Thousands of passengers — and staff — were left stranded on both sides of the Atlantic in cities such as London, New York, Washington DC, Boston, and Toronto, and facing the burden of finding new flights home.

Some airlines — including Virgin Airways, British Airways and Norwegian — were stepping in to offer them reduced “repatriation fares”, but other airlines, such as American and United, told The Independent they would not be offering such fares.

Primera blamed delays in newaircraft deliveries, which forced them into costly leasing, for its demise.