Flights to the Falklands Islands guaranteed despite the collapse of Flyglobespan

Replacement Flyglobespan flights arranged for Falklands military

MILITARY personnel were assured today that they would not be stranded in the Falklands despite the collapse of the only airline that flies direct to the islands from the UK.

Flyglobespan had the Ministry of Defence contract to operate flights in and out of the South Atlantic outpost.

And there were fears that islanders and military personnel would be unable to travel over the festive period after the Scottish firm’s planes were grounded.

But the flights have been secured after another airline took over the contract, the MoD said.

Air Italy has taken it on for the short term and will operate the two flights a week to and from the Falkland Islands for the next few weeks.

The MoD used a central broker to find a substitute for Flyglobespan, which had operated the flights since winning a four-year contract in 2008.

An MoD spokeswoman said: “There will be no delays on the airbridge to the Falklands and Ascension Island as a result of Flyglobespan going into administration.

“The MoD lets contracts through brokers who have already employed Air Italy to replace the Flyglobespan flights in the short term. Negotiations are under way to determine a long term solution.”

The flights left RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, calling at Ascension Island en route to the Falklands.

Many passengers from the island of St Helena, which has no airport, also sail three days to Ascension Island on the Royal Mail Ship St Helena to pick up the flight, saving themselves a five-day boat journey to Cape Town.

The aircraft carried up to 184 civilian and government passengers on each charter flight, as well as freight.

It was the only flight option for Falkland islanders other than Chilean carrier Lan, which calls at Santiago.

Air Italy will run the flights under the same terms and conditions, the MoD said.

The MoD said it was trying to find a long-term solution for the route.
Flyglobespan cabin crews are reportedly stranded in the Falklands and on Ascension Island.

When it was announced in October last year, the contract was described as the “most economical advantageous solution” to the MoD’s passenger, aero-medical and freight requirements.

An alternative provider will also be found to cover a contract which had recently been agreed to fly military personnel to the Middle East en route to Afghanistan from January.

Rescue of stranded Flyglobespan passengers begins

The difficult task of bringing back passengers stuck abroad following the sudden collapse of Flyglobespan began today, as unions attacked the airline’s handling of passengers and staff.

About 4,000 passengers were left stranded after Scotland’s biggest carrier applied for administration last night and all scheduled flights were cancelled. Budget rival Flybe stepped in with a special one-off rescue fare to fly affected passengers home to Scotland. For £59.99 including all taxes and charges, Flybe will, wherever possible, make seats available on its scheduled services from Malaga, Alicante, Geneva and Chambery for Flyglobespan passengers who wish to return to Edinburgh and Glasgow via Southampton or Exeter.

Passengers should phone the Flybe customer call centre with their Flyglobespan booking reference, or go to Flybe ticket desks at airports.

EasyJet is offering to fly back passengers stranded in France, Switzerland, mainland Spain, the Balearics and Portugal for £60, including taxes, to any UK airport, by 24 December. Those stuck in Cyprus, Egypt, the Canaries and Madeira can come back on easyJet for £80. EasyJet is also offering £60 return flights to Flyglobespan passengers from Faro to Glasgow; Malaga to Glasgow; Alicante to Glasgow and Geneva to Edinburgh up until 30 December.

Ryanair has also launched a rescue fare, costing between £59 and £89 one way, including taxes and charges.

Transport minister Paul Clark said efforts were being made to try to get stranded passengers home for Christmas. “We are working with the industry and the Civil Aviation Authority to minimise the regrettable disruption,” he said.

“People have been aware of this and very few have been turning up at the airport in Glasgow,” said a spokeswoman for PricewaterhouseCoopers, which was appointed administrators to Flyglobespan yesterday. She said the administrators would first focus on the practical issues – how to bring back stranded passengers – and the future of the airline’s 800 staff.

The news came as Virgin Atlantic announced extra flights from Glasgow to Florida next summer. It expects to add seven extra flights to Orlando during June and July.

Unite, the biggest union in aviation, said it was outraged at the “shocking mistreatment” of Flyglobespan’s workforce and passengers.

Brian Boyd, Unite national officer for civil aviation, said: “It is tragic that Flyglobespan has been unable to survive the current difficult trading conditions within civil aviation. However, the real tragedy is that, along with thousands of passengers stuck overseas, the 800 Flyglobespan employees have been thrown into a Christmas of misery with no wages and no job.

“The manner in which workers can be cast aside in the UK is shocking. It is totally unacceptable to Unite and our members, and we call upon everyone with a responsibility to play in rectifying this dreadful situation, including the Scottish government, to assist Flyglobespan employees by ensuring speedy compensation at this most important time of the year.”

Flyglobespan was also responsible for the Ministry of Defence air link with the Falkland Islands, operating two flights a week from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. There were concerns this morning that military staff and their families may be left stranded over Christmas but the MoD has now said that Air Italy has taken the contract over in the short term.
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SOURCES:

“Replacement Flyglobespan flights arranged for Falklands military”
17 December 2009
scotsman.com
http://www.scotsman.com
http://www.scotsman.com/world/Replacement-Flyglobespan-flights-arranged-for.5921346.jp

“Rescue of stranded Flyglobespan passengers begins”
Julia Kollewe
guardian.co.uk
Thursday 17 December 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/dec/17/flyglobespan-passengers-stranded-bust-administration