Flyglobespan calls in administrators; stops flying
17.12.09
Scottish airline Flyglobespan has been placed in administration and stopped all flights, stranding thousands of holidaymakers abroad and ruining the travel plans of almost 100,000. The airline operates flights from Aberdeen, Belfast, Edinburgh, Gatwick and Glasgow airports
Edinburgh-based Flyglobespan, a subsidiary of The Globespan Group, operated its first flights in 2002. The company was reported to have been near administration a month ago but found support from a new investor. However, when this deal failed to be completed, it was placed in administration today.
An estimated 4,500 British holidaymakers have been stranded abroad after all flights were grounded following the collapse of the budget airline. Most are in the Canary Islands, Egypt and the Mediterranean. Around 1,100 who booked through a travel agent and are ATOL protected will be brought home free of charge, but 3,400 who booked their own flights will have to make their own alternative arrangements and 93,000 who made future bookings are unlikely to get their money back.
easyJet, Ryanair and Flybe are among airlines offering passengers affected special ‘rescue’ fares to allow passengers to return home where their routes overlap with those of Flyglobespan. Passengers are advised to phone the airlines direct to receive the special deals and a list of numbers to call can be found at the CAA's website.
Administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) said Flyglobespan had failed to secure a new investor, meaning most of the firm's 800 staff members will be made redundant.
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