BBC News 12 June 2021
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| Aer Lingus flights at George Best Belfast City Airport have been affected |
Aer Lingus is stopping flights from George Best Belfast City Airport to several UK destinations.
It comes after Stobart Air, which operates Aer Lingus' regional services, including those from Belfast, failed to find a buyer and is being liquidated.
Flights to Leeds Bradford, Edinburgh, Exeter, Manchester, East Midlands and Birmingham have been cancelled.
But a planned route between the airport and Newquay - due to start in late June - will be affected.
Stobart Air also operated a number of routes within the Republic of Ireland for Aer Lingus and those routes have all been cancelled.
Aer Lingus was due to replace Stobart Air with a new regional operator next year but it is not clear how quickly it could now start to operate the services.
Emerald Airlines was being lined up to take over the contract.
'Shameful'
John Bird, from Newcastle, County Down, was in England to attend a family funeral and was due to return to Northern Ireland, from Birmingham, on Saturday afternoon.
He said he received a text from Aer Lingus at 08:45 BST saying that the flight was cancelled.
"We have now had to book new flights tomorrow from Manchester at an extra cost of £225 plus my son now needs to drive two hours to get us to Manchester," he said.
"I then need to get a taxi from Belfast International Airport to Belfast City Airport, at a cost of £40, to collect my car on the long term car park.
"I find this situation disgraceful with no help from either airline."
Mr Bird said that he cannot get through to the airline and added that it was "shameful" how passengers had been treated.
Ollie Richards is due to fly from Exeter to Belfast on Wednesday, with his wife Janice, who is from Newtownards, in County Down, and their five-month-old baby.
It is supposed to be the first time their daughter will meet her family in Northern Ireland.
He says he only found out about the flight cancellations through the media.
"One word: gutted, really, as I'm sure her family will be in Newtownards who we were going to see to show off our little one, who is five months and hasn't been over there yet," he told BBC News NI.
"Family members haven't seen her yet - there will be absolute despair, especially among the grandparents who aren't able to get over to us [in Devon].
"I'm sure they'll be distraught."
In a statement, Aer Lingus said it was informed of the decision late on Friday evening.
The airline apologised to its customers "for the inconvenience caused by the cancellation at such short notice".
"Aer Lingus is now communicating to customers to advise them of their options for refund or re-booking," said the statement.
Belfast City Airport said it was informed by Aer Lingus the operator had ceased operations on Saturday morning.
Its chief executive Brian Ambrose said the airport's "first priority" was to work with Aer Lingus to "see can we find a solution and get planes back in the air to serve these popular destinations".
An airport spokesperson apologised to passengers for the inconvenience saying it was "working with Aer Lingus to ensure these routes are operating again as soon as possible".
Belfast City Airport urged passengers booked onto the cancelled flights not to travel to the airport and to contact Aer Lingus.
Stobart Air staff received an email from the company's managing director on Friday night informing them of the situation.
It outlined that Ettyl Limited, a company based in the Isle of Man, had agreed terms with Esken, the owners of Stobart Air, to buy the company.
However, according to the email, Esken discovered on Thursday evening Ettyl Limited was unable to acquire the company "on the original terms" or "obtain an alternative funding package within the required timescale".
The email stated that Stobart Air was now in the process of appointing a liquidator.
Esken is to retain ownership of Carlisle Lake District Airport, which it also owns, but has said it will "actively explore strategic options for the use of this asset".
The business said it will hold discussions with stakeholders "including potential alternative commercial opportunities for the airport".
