What customers affected by the flybmi suspension should do

Hundreds of passengers have had their travel plans disrupted after airline flybmi suspended all flights, and said it was filing for administration.

Customers of the airline, which had operated 17 regional jet aircraft on routes to 25 European cities, have been told not to come to the airport unless they have re-booked flights with alternative providers.

Flybmi said it would not be able to purchase, rearrange or reschedule any flights on behalf of customers.

An extensive Q&A on the airline’s website – the only page now accessible to customers – lays out various options for those affected.

Customers have been advised to contact their payment card issuer to get a refund for flights.

Those who have booked through a travel agent or partner airlines are advised to contact their agent or airline.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said travellers should contact their insurance provider as their policy may include cover for scheduled airline failure.

It advised passengers whose flights were part of a package holiday to contact the travel firm they booked with.

If the firm holds an ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s Licence), it is responsible for flight arrangements and must either make alternative flights available so the trip can continue or provide a full refund, the CAA said.

Flybmi flights operated out of Aberdeen, Bristol, East Midlands, London Stansted, Newcastle and City of Derry and a number of European airports.

The airline said it carried 522,000 passengers on 29,000 flights last year.

Rory Boland, travel editor for the consumer body Which?, said: “This is terrible news for flybmi passengers, who will be seeking urgent advice on what steps to take.

“Some customers have claimed that tickets were being sold in the hours before the airline went bust, knowing full well those tickets would never be honoured, and passengers will rightly be outraged if this is proved to be the case.

“As all future flights have been cancelled, flybmi customers should explore their options for refunds.

“If you purchased your flight as part of a package you should be ATOL protected, which means you should get a refund.

“However, if you didn’t book as part of a package you may be able to claim the cost back through your travel insurance or credit card issuer, but it depends on your circumstances.”