Flybe collapses.....again......What to do if you were due to fly with flybe

The UK regional airline flybe has cancelled all flights to and from the UK after calling in the administrators and ceased trading.

On its website the airline posted the following message, asking passengers not to travel to the airport and advising  "Flybe has now ceased trading and all flights from and to the UK operated by Flybe have been cancelled and will not be rescheduled."

If you are a passenger affected by this event, please read the advice below.

If you are due to fly with Flybe today or in the future, please DO NOT TRAVEL TO THE AIRPORT unless you have arranged an alternative flight with another airline. Please note that Flybe is unfortunately not able to arrange alternative flights for passengers.

If you have a Flybe booking sold by an intermediary (i.e. not directly with Flybe) that includes travel on a Flybe flight, please contact the relevant airline or booking / travel agent to confirm if there is any impact to your travel plans as the intermediary may be able to support you with alternative arrangements and provide further advice regarding any claim you may need to make.

Customers are also advised to monitor the Civil Aviation Authority website for further information www.caa.co.uk/news

If you require any further information or assistance, please contact the Administrators at:

flybecustomers@interpathadvisory.com

The UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) advises the following on its site:

If you booked directly with Flybe and paid by credit card you may be protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and should contact your card issuer for further information. Similarly, if you paid by debit or charge card you should contact your card issuer for advice as you may be able to make a claim under their chargeback rules.

If you purchased travel insurance that includes cover for scheduled airline failure, known as SAFI, you should contact your insurer. If you did not book directly with Flybe and purchased your tickets through a third party, you should contact your booking or travel agent in the first instance.

Negative response letter

Passengers who booked directly with the company via either a credit, charge or debit card may alternatively be able to make a claim through their card provider. Some card providers will ask for a negative response letter confirming the position. Passengers may also be able to make a claim against their travel insurer.

The negative response letter will be published shortly.

Direct booking with an airline

If you paid the airline directly by credit card you might be protected by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. You should check with your card issuer for further advice. You may have similar cover if you paid by Visa debit card and should check with your bank.

Booked through an Airline Ticket Agent

If you booked your ticket through an airline ticket agent you should speak to the agent in the first instance; they may have provided travel insurance that includes Scheduled Airline Failure cover.

Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance (SAFI)

Some airlines and airline ticket agents will offer customers either a specific Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance (SAFI) policy or include similar protection within a broader travel insurance product. The type of protection provided may vary depending on the type of policy taken out. A policy may simply cover the cost of the original tickets purchased or any unused portion, or the additional cost of purchasing new flights, such as new tickets for travel back to the UK.

Paul Smith, Consumer Director at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said:

"It is always sad to see an airline enter administration and we know that Flybe's decision to stop trading will be distressing for all of its employees and customers.

We urge passengers planning to fly with this airline not to go to the airport as all Flybe flights are cancelled. For the latest advice, Flybe customers should visit the Civil Aviation Authority’s website or our Twitter feed for more information."

The majority of destinations served by Flybe are within the UK with alternative transport arrangements available.  We recognise that this is an uncertain time for affected employees and their families. Jobcentre Plus, through its Rapid Response Service, stands ready to support any employee affected."

The chief executive of Belfast City Airport, Matthew Hall commented: “First and foremost, our thoughts are with Flybe employees and passengers affected by this disappointing and unexpected news. Passengers booked on Flybe flights should not travel to the airport and should seek further advice from the Civil Aviation Authority.

Flybe operated 10 flights to and from Belfast City, eight of which are currently served by other carriers from our airport. Alternative travel to Birmingham; Glasgow; Leeds-Bradford; London Heathrow, Amsterdam; Edinburgh; Manchester; and Southampton can be arranged through Aer Lingus, KLM, British Airways and Loganair which operates flights to Teesside International from Belfast City Airport."