UK Regional Carrier Eastern Airways is in a big pickle, with the airline suspending services and returning leased aircraft as it files a notice of intention to appoint an administrator – a step to the airline failing
Eastern Airways BAe Jetstream 41 – by Arpingstone, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
The carrier was based at Aberdeen and Humberside, offering connections across the UK. It also operated Public Service Obligation routes, Oil and Gas routes and charter operations.
All Eastern Airways-operated flights are now cancelled.
Passengers are advised not to go to the airport as Eastern Airlines flights will not be operating. Eastern Airways customers are therefore urged to make their own alternative travel arrangements via other airlines, rail or coach operators.
Following the suspension of Eastern Airways operations, London and North Eastern Railway (LNER), ScotRail, TransPennine Express (TPE), and Northern will offer free Standard Class travel to Eastern Airways staff and customers on Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 October, on suitable routes operated by each train company.
To access this support, affected individuals should present either an Eastern Airways employee ID, boarding pass, or flight confirmation to station staff.
For those seeking refunds, you’ll need to chase depending on your booking agent
- Directly – Claim against your Credit/Debit card under
- Schedule Air Fare Insurance – Contact your insurer
- Third Party – Contact your booking agent
The UK Civil Aviation Authority has published its advice at https://www.caa.co.uk/newsroom/news/uk-civil-aviation-authority-statement-eastern-airways/.
In Quotes
Selina Chadha, Consumer & Markets Director at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said:
“We urge passengers planning to fly with this airline not to go to the airport as all Eastern Airways flights are cancelled. Eastern Airways customers should visit the Civil Aviation Authority’s website for the latest information.”
Fleet
At its peak, Eastern Airways operated a mixed fleet, with 3 ATR72-600, 9 BAe JetStream 41, 2 Emberar E70 and 4 Embraer E190 aircraft. Over the past few days, aircraft have been returned to lessors, with four BAe Jetstream 41 assigned to the airline.
And depending on the outcome of the administrators, those could be gone too soon enough
The regional market in the UK is tough
Regional carriers in the UK have a very rough time of it, with them having to specialise in services (eg, Loganair has a heavy scotish prescence, Aurigny and Blue Islands focus on the Channel Island, Emerald Air for Aer Lingus), if they don’t want to be squeezed at the bottom by the low-cost carriers, whilst fighting off British Airways CitiFlyer and Mainline services which swallow the bulk services to Heathrow.
Recent failures have included BMI Regional, FlyBe (twice) and Stobart Air. Even mainline operates failed at some regional flying with Virgin Atlantic’s Little Red hardly making it to the point where the airline could convert slots into something useful.
With both car and train being viable options in a lot of cases for journeys in the UK, its a very tough market unless you’re going cross country, heading over to Ireland or on the trunk routes between London and Scotland.
Eastern Airways sadly is another sign that market is extremly tough out there.
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