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Scottish Airline Collapse Leaves Thousands Stranded Abroad

Fri, 18 Dec 2009

FlyGlobespan, Scotland's biggest airline has gone into administration after failing to secure a major funding package.

On Wednesday night the low-cost carrier announced that all scheduled flights would be cancelled, leaving around 4,500 travellers stranded in a number of European holiday destinations.

In a statement, administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers said the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) would be responsible for the repatriation of around 1,100 people abroad – those who booked flights as part of a package holiday deal with sister company Globespan.

But they added that the remaining holidaymakers who have been left stranded overseas are unlikely to be assisted by the CAA or offered a refund because they booked flights directly through the airline’s website (flyglobespan.com).

A further 117,000 who have booked Christmas breaks with the company will also miss out on holidays, with many not expected to receive a refund, and around 800 members of staff are expected to be left without a job.

Budget airline rivals Ryanair and easyJet are both offering 'rescue' fares between Glasgow Prestwick and Edinburgh airports and key Flyglobespan destinations such as Tenerife, Alicante, Malaga and Geneva .

FlyGlobespan had been suffering from a slump in passenger numbers during the recession, as well as higher fuel costs.

The majority of its services operated from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen serving Mediterranean resorts, as well as a handful of mid and long-haul destinations including Florida and Egypt . The airline also flew from Cardiff, Belfast and Manchester.

In response to the carrier’s collapse, the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) called on the government to take action to ensure all airline passengers are given the same level of protection.
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