U.K. carrier Flybe entered administration on Thursday, abruptly ending operations and grounding all flights. The carrier, already in tenuous financial shape, had been unable to secure financing as it faced the extra blow of a demand drop related to the Covid-19 outbreak.
The U.K. Civil Aviation Authority is advising passengers with tickets for Flybe flights to make their own alternative arrangements. Carriers including British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair have introduced some special fares on routes that were operated by Flybe, and train operators in Britain are offering free travel to Flybe staff and customers unable to travel due to Flybe's collapse, according to the CAA.
To get refunds for canceled flights, those who booked directly with Flybe should contact their credit card issuer for information. Those who booked through agents should first check with their agent to see if their ticket included Scheduled Airline Failure coverage, the CAA advised.
Flybe is the latest of several European carriers in recent years to suddenly collapse, including Air Italy, Thomas Cook Group, Wow Air, Primera Air and Monarch.