UK Airline Serving 1.3 Million Passengers Faces Administration and Cancels All Flights

Published on October 27, 2025 at 05:53 PM
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ANOTHER European airline is set to go into administration in days – impacting hundreds of thousands of passengers.

Eastern Airways, that serves different destinations inand Scotland, has filed a notice of intention to appoint an administrator.

Aerial view of a car park and an airplane wing descending towards Gatwick London.Eastern Airways has filed for an administratorCredit: Alamy

This means the company has 10 days to fix its problems before it officially goes bust.

However, all routes have now been suspended with all flights axed.

Selina Chadha, Consumer & Markets Director at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “We urge passengers planning to fly with this airline not to go to the airport as all Eastern Airways flights are cancelled.

“Eastern Airways customers should visit the Civil Aviation Authority’s website for the latest information.”

Eastern Airways launched back in 1997 and carries around 1.3million passengers each year.

The airline plays a key role in providing regional air travel across the UK, with current destinations including Wick and Aberdeen in Scotland, and then Humberside, Teeside International, and Newquay.

However, the airline has previously operated many other routes including to from Southampton and .

Services to were launched back in 2021 but then axed just a year later.

And in March last year, the operator also cancelled its route between Cardiff to Paris Orly,

Only this year, did the airline also announce that it would be launching flights from Newquay in , to London Southend Airport in Essex.

Currently, this route cannot be seen on the airline’s website.

Eastern Airways is also the number one provider of charter flights for sports teams in Europe – this includes and Championship football teams, Rugby Union teams and Super League teams.

For the 12 months to March 2024, Eastern Airways reported a net loss of £19.7million — £4.8million higher than the previous year.

The company’s total debt rose by £4.8million to £25.97million, while profit fell sharply to £454,000 from £1.55million the year before.

The Sun has contacted for comment.

It isn’t the only airline that recently went bust this year.

Last month, announced that it would be ceasing operations with all flights being cancelled.

Play Airlines flew to a number of different European destinations likes Stansted, , and Faro.

And last year, – a US low-cost carrier – also filed for bankruptcy.

ceased operations in 2017, which at the time was the UK’s largest ever to collapse.

then shut down in 2019 – although the airline has since relaunched.

What to do if you have an upcoming flight with Eastern Airways

Head of Travel at The Sun, shares her advice…

Passengers stranded by the collapse of Eastern Airways have several options depending on their circumstances.

If you’re flight is cancelled, you’ll need to find – and pay – for an alternative flight with another airline.

Many airlines offer rescue fares when competitors go bust, offering lower prices for those who can prove they were due to fly with the airline that has failed.

It will be your responsibility to get yourself home – but if you have scheduled airline failure as part of your travel insurance policy you may well be able to claim on that and recoup the cost.

For those without scheduled airline failure insurance, you will sadly be left out of pocket and have to get yourself home.

If you are due to fly with Eastern Airways in the coming days, weeks or months, you should put a claim in straight away with your debit or credit card provider.

They should refund you without fuss.

For those who are due to fly with Eastern Airways as part of a package holiday they have bought from a travel agent or tour operator, your package holiday provider is obliged to find an alternative way for you to reach your destination or offer you a full refund.

Or if you can get the train, London and North Eastern Railway (LNER), ScotRail, TransPennine Express (TPE), and Northern Railway are offering free Standard Class travel to Eastern Airways staff and customers on Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 October, on suitable routes operated by each train company.

The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority has the latest information on its website, caa.co.uk

In other airline news, to popular destinations from a major UK airport.

Plus, a is set to launch its first ever flights from a London airport.

Aerial view of Gatwick Airport, Sussex, UK.The operator flies to a number of airports including London GatwickCredit: Alamy

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