AIRLINE PROBLEMS GROUND FLIGHTS

AIRLINE flybmi – which operates from Bristol – has suspended flights and is filing for administration, blaming uncertainty around Brexit. British Midland Regional Limited, which had operated 17 regional jet aircraft on routes to 25 European cities, said all flights were cancelled from last night.

Difficulties have included increases in fuel and carbon costs, as well as challenges “particularly those created by Brexit”, a statement on the airline’s website said.

A total of 376 employees based in the UK, Germany, Sweden and Belgium are employed by bmi Regional.

The East Midlands-based airline had operated flights from Aberdeen, Bristol, City of Derry, East Midlands, London Stansted and Newcastle in the UK.

Last year, the airline carried 522,000 passengers on 29,000 flights, according to its website.

A statement from flybmi last night said: “It is with a heavy heart that we have made this announcement today.

“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.

“Additionally, our situation mirrors wider difficulties in the regional airline industry which have been well unavoidable documented. 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.”

Customers have been advised to contact their payment card issuer to get a refund for flights, while those who have booked through a travel agent or partner airlines are advised to contact their agent or airline for details of their options.

One passenger said he had already gone through security at Bristol airport when his flight was cancelled.

He 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.

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.”

Brian Strutton, general secretary of the British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA), 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.”