Airline’s administration grounds plans for new route to take-off

Plans to launch a new daily service between Leeds Bradford Airport and Munich have been grounded before starting after the airline which was due to operate it – Flybmi – entered administration on Saturday.

Just days after the service was announced by LBA CEO David Laws, managing director of Flybmi Jochen Schnadt and Henri Murison of Northern Powerhouse Partnership, the route will now not take to the skies. It was due to take-off in April and at the launch, Laws was urging businesses to support the new route to make it a success.

An LBA spokesperson said: “We are hugely saddened by the news that Flybmi has announced that it has ceased operations and is filing for administration.

“This news is the latest example of the challenging times the aviation industry is currently going through. We would also like to thank Yorkshire’s travelling public who had started to show their support for the airline following the recent announcement of its daily service to Munich.”

Flybmi, the airline based at East Midlands Airport, ceased flights on Saturday blaming spikes in costs and Brexit uncertainty. The airline’s owner British Midland Regional Limited employed 376 staff and operated 17 aeroplanes to 25 destinations across Europe.

A Flybmi spokesman said: “It is with a heavy heart that we have made this unavoidable announcement.

“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.

“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.”

A statement from The British Airline Pilots Association added: “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.”

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