All Aer Lingus regional flights operated by Stobart Air have been cancelled with immediate effect after Stobart Air announced it has ceased operations.
Aer Lingus said the airline informed them last night it was terminating its franchise agreement with Aer Lingus and was in the process of appointing a liquidator.
Aer Lingus said it cannot say how many customers are affected but is "focusing on helping them with rebooking and refund options".
There are 12 routes scheduled to operate that have been immediately impacted by the decision.
Customers who were booked to travel on flights operated by Stobart Air are advised not to go to the airport and should check the Aer Lingus website for updated information on refund or rebooking options.
Among the first flights to be cancelled were the 9.10am from Dublin to Glasgow and the 12.25pm from Dublin to Kerry this afternoon.
All Stobart Air flights on the following routes are cancelled: Dublin/Kerry; Dublin/Donegal; Dublin/Glasgow; Dublin/Edinburgh; Dublin/Manchester; Dublin/Newquay; Belfast City/Manchester; Belfast City/Birmingham; Belfast City/Edinburgh; Belfast City/Leeds Bradford, Belfast City/Exeter; Belfast City/East Midlands.
Cancellations at Dublin Airport after Stobart Air announcement
In a statement, Stobart Air said it was with "great regret and sadness" that its board is in the process of appointing a liquidator and that the airline is to cease operations with immediate effect.
"This unavoidable and difficult decision means that all Aer Lingus Regional routes, currently operated by Stobart Air under its franchise agreement with Aer Lingus, have been cancelled," it said.
The company said all 480 staff have been informed of the decision and it acknowledged the "significant contribution, loyalty, dedication" of the team.
It also apologised to its customers for the inconvenience that the cancellation of flights at short notice would cause.
The airline, which is owned by UK-based Esken group, said in April that a new owner had been identified - Isle of Man-based start-up Ettyl.
"However, it has emerged that the funding to support this transaction is no longer in place and the new owner is now unable to conclude the transaction," it said.
"Given the continued impact of the pandemic which has virtually halted air travel since March 2019 and in the absence of any alternative purchasers or sources of funding, the Board of Stobart Air must take the necessary, unavoidable and difficult decision to seek to appoint a liquidator."
Stobart Air's pre-Covid operating schedule, which was comprised of over 900 weekly flights across 30 routes, has reduced by 94% since March of last year.
Stobart Air's contract to operate the Aer Lingus Regional service was due to expire at the end of next year.
Aer Lingus had already been in advanced talks with a new preferred bidder, Emerald Airlines, about it taking over the contract.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed by the two parties and it had been expected that a formal contract would be signed soon.
Stobart Air was headquartered in Dublin and had a fleet of 13 aircraft based in Ireland.
It was formerly called Aer Arann but was renamed in 2017 to Stobart Air when it was acquired by the Stobart Group.
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said the announcement today is "concerning news for the affected workers and for regional connectivity".
"We will be engaging with all stakeholders today and over the comings days to restore connectivity to the regional airports affected by today's announcement."
The Fórsa trade union, which represents 120 cabin crew in the airline, along with pilots, said staff based in Dublin, Cork and Belfast were devastated at hearing the news.
Fórsa national secretary Ashley Connolly said Stobart had been working with the union to try to navigate a path through the pandemic.
Kerry Airport CEO John Mulhern said Stobart Air has been a "most valued and respected partner to Kerry Airport for several years" and it ceasing operations "is a most unfortunate development".
"A line of communication on the recovery of our Dublin-Kerry route has already commenced with The Department of Transport," Mr Mulhern added.
The Irish Air Line Pilots' Association said it was "extremely disappointed" with the announcement.
It said Stobart Air's demise "reflects a failure of government policy to support Irish Aviation despite the industry being effectively shut down for almost 18 months".
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Aer Lingus said the airline informed them last night it was terminating its franchise agreement with Aer Lingus and was in the process of appointing a liquidator.
Aer Lingus said it cannot say how many customers are affected but is "focusing on helping them with rebooking and refund options".
There are 12 routes scheduled to operate that have been immediately impacted by the decision.
Customers who were booked to travel on flights operated by Stobart Air are advised not to go to the airport and should check the Aer Lingus website for updated information on refund or rebooking options.
Among the first flights to be cancelled were the 9.10am from Dublin to Glasgow and the 12.25pm from Dublin to Kerry this afternoon.
All Stobart Air flights on the following routes are cancelled: Dublin/Kerry; Dublin/Donegal; Dublin/Glasgow; Dublin/Edinburgh; Dublin/Manchester; Dublin/Newquay; Belfast City/Manchester; Belfast City/Birmingham; Belfast City/Edinburgh; Belfast City/Leeds Bradford, Belfast City/Exeter; Belfast City/East Midlands.
Cancellations at Dublin Airport after Stobart Air announcement
In a statement, Stobart Air said it was with "great regret and sadness" that its board is in the process of appointing a liquidator and that the airline is to cease operations with immediate effect.
"This unavoidable and difficult decision means that all Aer Lingus Regional routes, currently operated by Stobart Air under its franchise agreement with Aer Lingus, have been cancelled," it said.
The company said all 480 staff have been informed of the decision and it acknowledged the "significant contribution, loyalty, dedication" of the team.
It also apologised to its customers for the inconvenience that the cancellation of flights at short notice would cause.
The airline, which is owned by UK-based Esken group, said in April that a new owner had been identified - Isle of Man-based start-up Ettyl.
"However, it has emerged that the funding to support this transaction is no longer in place and the new owner is now unable to conclude the transaction," it said.
"Given the continued impact of the pandemic which has virtually halted air travel since March 2019 and in the absence of any alternative purchasers or sources of funding, the Board of Stobart Air must take the necessary, unavoidable and difficult decision to seek to appoint a liquidator."
Stobart Air's pre-Covid operating schedule, which was comprised of over 900 weekly flights across 30 routes, has reduced by 94% since March of last year.
Stobart Air's contract to operate the Aer Lingus Regional service was due to expire at the end of next year.
Aer Lingus had already been in advanced talks with a new preferred bidder, Emerald Airlines, about it taking over the contract.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed by the two parties and it had been expected that a formal contract would be signed soon.
Stobart Air was headquartered in Dublin and had a fleet of 13 aircraft based in Ireland.
It was formerly called Aer Arann but was renamed in 2017 to Stobart Air when it was acquired by the Stobart Group.
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said the announcement today is "concerning news for the affected workers and for regional connectivity".
"We will be engaging with all stakeholders today and over the comings days to restore connectivity to the regional airports affected by today's announcement."
The Fórsa trade union, which represents 120 cabin crew in the airline, along with pilots, said staff based in Dublin, Cork and Belfast were devastated at hearing the news.
Fórsa national secretary Ashley Connolly said Stobart had been working with the union to try to navigate a path through the pandemic.
Kerry Airport CEO John Mulhern said Stobart Air has been a "most valued and respected partner to Kerry Airport for several years" and it ceasing operations "is a most unfortunate development".
"A line of communication on the recovery of our Dublin-Kerry route has already commenced with The Department of Transport," Mr Mulhern added.
The Irish Air Line Pilots' Association said it was "extremely disappointed" with the announcement.
It said Stobart Air's demise "reflects a failure of government policy to support Irish Aviation despite the industry being effectively shut down for almost 18 months".
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