AN AIRLINE has told passengers not to travel to the airport after the company crashed into administration yesterday.

Flybe made the announcement that all flights have been grounded in a statement on its website, throwing doubt over the future of its 2,400 employees.

This comes just weeks after it revealed plans to add new routes from Gatwick Airport to Newquay and Amsterdam.

A spokesman said: “Flybe entered administration on March 5 2020 and Alan Hudson, Joanne Robinson, Lucy Winterborne and Simon Edel of EY have been appointed as joint administrators.

“All flights have been grounded and the UK business has ceased trading with immediate effect.

“If you are due to fly with Flybe, please do not travel to the airport unless you have arranged an alternative flight with another airline. 

“Please note that Flybe is unfortunately not able to arrange alternative flights for passengers.

“If you have a booking sold by another airline that includes travel on a Flybe flight, please contact the relevant airline or travel agent to confirm if there is any impact to your travel plans.

“Customers are also advised to monitor the Civil Aviation Authority website for further information.”

It also provided a phone number and email address for employees to call for more information.

The announcement comes less than two months after the airline revealed it had plans for a new route from Gatwick Airport.

It revealed the new service in late January after narrowly avoiding administration the week before. 

Before this, the airline had not flown from the airport since March 2019.

After escaping administration in January, ministers said the airline should receive support because of its regional connectivity.

Flybe said the new route “marked the beginning of a stronger, more resilient service for our customers travelling to and from Cornwall”.

The airline also planned to operate six flights a week to Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport and an extra five flights a week to Manchester as part of an additional 1,149 flights, which were intended to start running on March 29.

A spokesman said: “The two new routes offer four flights a day to London Gatwick, and six flights a week to Amsterdam, a sought-after destination in its own right.

“The new route to London Gatwick, operated under a Public Service Obligation, will replace one-for-one the current four times a day Heathrow flights. 

“The new Amsterdam service has been timed to connect conveniently with many of the international airlines offering onward travel to the rest of the world from one of Europe’s busiest hub airports.”

If you have been affected by the grounding of flights by the airline, call 01273 021374 or email Harry.Bullmore@theargus.co.uk