Eastern Airways, the Humberside-based regional carrier, has suspended all flights as of Monday, 27 October. The airline, which served routes including Aberdeen to Wick, Teesside, and Humberside, as well as London Gatwick to Newquay, filed a 'notice of intention to appoint an administrator', providing temporary protection from creditors. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has advised passengers not to travel to airports as flights will not operate.
Passengers with return tickets who have completed one leg must arrange alternative transport. For those stranded on Aberdeen routes on 28-29 October, train operators LNER, ScotRail, TransPennine Express, and Northern Railway are offering free standard class travel upon presentation of a boarding pass or flight confirmation. Similarly, GWR will carry passengers and staff free between Newquay and Gatwick, requiring a change at Par and Reading.
Ryanair, which flies from Newquay to London Stansted, may offer rescue fares for Eastern Airways ticket holders. Passengers with travel insurance covering scheduled airline failure (Safi) should contact their insurer, though this typically applies only to international journeys.
Refunds depend on payment method. Those who booked directly with a credit card for tickets costing £100 or more can claim under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. Debit or charge card users, or those paying less than £100 by credit card, may seek refunds via chargeback. PayPal users should contact the company, and those booking through travel agents should approach them directly. Passengers with outstanding claims for delays or cancellations become unsecured creditors.
The CAA reassures that other UK carriers remain financially stable despite the challenging economic climate.
