Flyglobespan goes under, stranding thousands
17.12.09
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 operated flights from Aberdeen, Belfast, Edinburgh, Gatwick and Glasgow airports
Edinburgh-based Flyglobespan, a subsidiary of holiday company The Globespan Group, first launched flights in 2002. The Group 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 of its flights were grounded. Most are in the Canary Islands, Egypt and the Mediterranean. Around 1100 who booked through a travel agent and are ATOL protected will be brought home free of charge, but 3400 who booked their own flights direct with the airline will have to make their own alternative arrangements and 93,000 who made future direct bookings are unlikely to get their money back.
easyJet, Ryanair and Flybe are among airlines offering passengers stranded special ‘rescue’ fares where their routes overlap with those of Flyglobespan. Passengers are advised to phone the airlines direct to receive the special rates. A list of numbers to call can be found at the CAA website.
Administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers said Flyglobespan had failed to secure a new investor, meaning most of the firm's 800 staff members will be made redundant. A small number will be kept on to ensure a smooth closure of the firm.
Add to: del.icio.us | Digg it | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit
To book edinburgh airport hotel or edinburgh airport car park at the lowest price, click on these links to two great edinburgh airport car parking and edinburgh airport hotel price comparison pages.
