Flybe is warning holidaymakers with tickets to fly with the airline not to travel to the airport unless they have made alternative arrangments.

Flybe , the largest regional airline in Europe, has collapsed. The carrier operated routes from Newcastle Airport to Southampton and Exeter, while its franchise partner Eastern Airways operates out of Teesside Airport.

The collapse comes just days before hundreds of Newcastle United fans were set to travel with Flybe to the south coast to watch the Magpies take on Southampton this weekend. The supporters will now have to make alternative arrangements for the 322 mile journey from Newcastle to St Mary's Stadium on Saturday.

All Flybe and Stobart Air services have been grounded due to the collapse, although flights with franchise partners like Eastern Airways and Blue Islands may go ahead. The CAA advises Eastern Airways and Blue Islands passengers to contact the airlines directly.

What does Flybe's collapse mean for travellers, how will our airports be affected and will customers get refunds?

I have a Flybe ticket to travel, should I go to the airport?

Unless you have made alternative arrangements, you should not travel to the airport, Flybe says.



Airports using Flybe
Airports using Flybe

If you have a Flybe ticket you may be able to take a train for free

Rail companies including LNER, Avanti West Coast, TransPennineExpres, Great Western Railways, South West and Hull Trains are offering free travel today to help Flybe staff and customers get home.

LNER commercial director Suzanne Donnelly said: "We recognise this is a difficult time for Flybe staff and for customers booked to travel with the former airline.

"We are pleased to be able to offer free standard travel to help people return home following the collapse of Flybe."

FirstGroup, which operates Avanti West Coast, TransPennineExpress, Great Western Railways, South West and Hull Trains tweeted: "We’re sorry to hear about the collapse of Flybe.

"We’d like to help those customers affected by allowing them to make their journey today on any First Group PLC train service free of charge by producing reasonable evidence of their Flybe booking.

I'm flying with Eastern Airlines from Teesside Airport? Will I still get to travel?

You should be fine. Teesside Mayor Ben Houchen has said that although Eastern is a Flybe franchise, Eastern has its own planes and will be able to continue operating independently.

Passengers booked on Thursday, Friday or Sunday flights operated by Eastern Airways are advised to turn up and travel as normal.

Speaking yesterday, as Flybe's collapse became imminent,Mayor Houchen added: "Eastern Airways is completely independent of Flybe and as a result passengers using Teesside Airport will not experience any disruption as a result of the anticipated devastating news for Flybe.

"I want to stress that flights will continue as normal and can continue to be booked through Eastern's own booking system.

"My thoughts are with all the workers at Flybe who are facing an uncertain future this evening, as well as all the holidaymakers who have bookings with Flybe in the pipeline."

What happens to customers already on holiday and have return Flybe tickets?

The Civil Aviation Authority could be ordered to launch a repatriation programme to bring Flybe passengers home, as it did for Monarch and Thomas Cook when they collapsed. However, no plans have been confirmed yet and the CAA is telling Flybe passengers NOT to travel to the airport unless they have made other arrangements.

It advises passengers to keep checking the CAA website and its Twitter feed @UK_CAA for the latest information.

When Monarch Airlines went bust in October 2017, the Government spent £60 million hiring planes to get passengers home while bringing back Thomas Cook passengers has been estimated to have cost even more.

Will Flybe passengers get a refund?

Some will be guaranteed refunds, some won't, as it depends how the flights were booked and paid for.

Some travel insurance companies will cover cancelled flights if they are the result of an airline collapse, but not all policies provide this coverage.

Refund rights also differ depending on how a customer paid for their flights.

Holidaymakers can also apply to their credit or debit card provider to be reimbursed.

If the flights cost more than £100 and were paid for by credit card, passengers have the right to a refund, under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.

Those who have paid with debit cards may be able to get their money back by asking their bank to apply a charge-back to Flybe, but there is no legal right which guarantees they will get their money back.

Flights bought directly from airlines such as Flybe are not generally Atol protected but those bought through a separate travel company may be covered.

How can Flybe passengers try and get their money back?

Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis appeared on ITV's This Morning to offer his advice to passengers. He suggested three options, adding that passengers should not panic, as refunds are likely but may take a while.

He said: "The first thing I'd be looking to do is a charge back, which is where you ask your debit or credit card provider to go to Flybe and ask for the money back.

"If you've paid on a credit card and paid over £100 you have rights under section 75 and can get your money back by asking your card provider, but they prefer to do a charge back, so try that first.

"If both of those fail you can go to the financial ombudsman and they will usually help you to get your cash back.

"If you've had knock on costs like a hotel that you can no longer get to you might be able to claim on your travel insurance, if you have specific scheduled airline failure cover."

What is the Atol scheme?

Atol provides protection to holidaymakers when travel firms collapse.

Which bookings are Atol protected?


What protection does it offer?

