Nordic low-cost airline Primera Air has ceased all operations and is expected to go into administration.

Stansted said travellers due to fly with the airline should not travel to the airport, from which Primera operated flights to Spain and the US.

Stansted told the company it would seize one aircraft, which was already on the ground and was not due to fly on Monday, because of unpaid bills.

Birmingham Airport referred customers to the Civil Aviation Authority advice, which urged those expecting return flights to the UK with the operator to make fresh arrangements home.

Primera, which has operated for 15 years, began offering flights for £99 across the Atlantic from Stansted to New York, Boston, Washington, and Toronto this year.

In a leaked email sent to news organisations, including Sky News, Primera's director of operations Anders Ludvigson, said the airline would file for bankruptcy on 2 October and stranded crews would be found accommodation.

The airline was forced to cancel flights from Birmingham to America because of a delayed aircraft.

It later decided to end operations from Birmingham altogether, leaving many people out of pocket for their purchased tickets.

On its website, Primera said: "Airline Primera Air and IATA codes PF and 6F have been suspended as of today, October 2nd, 2018."

"On this sad day we are saying goodbye to all of you.

"Kindly understand that the usual options for contacts (via email or phone) can not be offered any longer."

Primera Air, which is Icelandic-owned but based in Copenhagen, began in 2003 and served more than 20 countries.

Mr Ludvigson blamed the airline's collapse on the high cost of leasing planes after the delivery of new planes was delayed.

A London Stansted Airport spokesperson said: "We have learned this afternoon that Primera Air has ceased all flight operations and will go into administration at midnight tonight.

"Passengers due to travel with Primera Air are advised not to travel to the airport and instead contact the airline direct for the latest information regarding their flight.

"We understand this is a difficult time for customers whose travel plans have been disrupted and we are providing information and assistance to those who have already travelled to the airport for flights that had been due to depart today."

The Foreign Office said its consulate in Malaga had already been contacted for advice by a Briton. </s> Would-be passengers have been warned not to turn up for Primera Air flights after the discount airline ceased operations ahead of filing for bankruptcy.

Stansted said on Monday that travellers due to fly with the airline should not travel to the airport, from which Primera operated flights to Spain and the US.

Birmingham Airport referred customers to the Civil Aviation Authority advice, which urged those expecting return flights to the UK with the operator to make fresh arrangements home.

The collapse of the airline comes almost a year to the day after travel firm Monarch went to the wall, leading to the redundancies of nearly 2,000 employees.

More than 110,000 Monarch passengers were left overseas and the Civil Aviation Authority helped repatriate stranded holidaymakers in what transport secretary Chris Grayling called an “unprecedented response to an unprecedented situation.”

The number of Primera Air passengers left stuck by the collapse is reported to be in the thousands, while those who have booked on tours have been urged to contact their agents.

The Danish airline said it was a “sad day” for staff and passengers but it had “no other choice than filing for bankruptcy”. </s> • Low-cost carrier Primera Air is declaring bankruptcy and ceasing all flight operations.
• In a leaked e-mail that surfaced Monday, Primera's director of operations informed crew that operations would cease on October 2 — while he stated that accommodations would be made for stranded crew. It is unclear what provisions will be made for stranded travelers. The company confirmed the bankruptcy in a statement to Business Insider.
• Primera began flying trans-Atlantic routes this spring, enticing travelers with fares for as low as $99 each way.

Primera Air — the low-cost European airline that turned heads this year when it offered $99 fares between the US and Europe — is planning to file for bankruptcy and cease operations.

The airline, which originally launched in 2009 as a tourism charter company, announced in 2017 that it would begin flights to North America for under $100 each way. The first routes, between London's Stansted Airport and New York, Boston, Washington, DC, and Toronto, began this spring, as the airline entered an increasingly competitive field of trans-Atlantic low-cost carriers.

In an internal e-mail that surfaced online today, Anders Ludvigsson, Primera's director of operations, shared the airlines plans to file for bankruptcy on October 2.

Ludvigsson's e-mail stated that travel arrangements would be made for flight crews who were located away from their operating bases, suggesting that the airline's operations would imminently cease — potentially forcing stranded passengers to make other arrangements.

Although the e-mail suggested that there would not be external communications from the airline before Tuesday, a statement on the airline's website appeared — seemingly prematurely — on Monday afternoon.

In a statement provided to Business Insider, Primera confirmed the plans to file for bankruptcy, as well as the complete cessation of the airline's operations.

During the several months that Primera operated long-haul flights, the airline was besieged with problems.

Delays in receiving new Airbus A321neo aircraft led to operational difficulties, including delays and cancellations. Customers became vocally unhappy with the airline's spotty performance record, often taking to social media to complain about cancellations and delays receiving compensation.

To fulfill service obligations despite the delayed aircraft deliveries, Primera "wet leased" aircraft and crews, adding a significant expense. In the leaked e-mail, Ludvigsson suggested that the cost of the wet leasing was too high, and Primera was unable to secure additional funding.

What remains unclear: What, if any, accommodations will be made by Primera for any passengers stranded away from home when the airline's operations cease. A representative for the airline could not immediately confirm plans for passengers scheduled to travel on the airline because "all the employees of Primera Air are let go." Business Insider will update when there's more information available. </s> Would-be passengers have been warned not to turn up for Primera Air flights after the discount airline ceased operations ahead of filing for bankruptcy.

Stansted said on Monday that travellers due to fly with the airline should not travel to the airport, from which Primera operated flights to Spain and the US.

Birmingham Airport referred customers to the Civil Aviation Authority advice, which urged those expecting return flights to the UK with the operator to make fresh arrangements home.

The Foreign Office said its consulate in Malaga had already been contacted for advice.

Stansted Airport said in a statement: “Passengers due to travel with Primera Air are advised not to travel to the airport and instead contact the airline directly.”

The Danish airline said it was a “sad day” for staff and passengers but it had “no other choice than filing for bankruptcy”. </s> Student Pavithra Priyadarshini is stranded at Dulles airport after the collapse of Primera Air.

Passengers have been left stuck in airports around the world after the airline Air said it was ceasing all operations at midnight on Monday. </s> Primera Air — the low-cost European airline that turned heads this year when it offered $99 fares between the US and Europe — is planning to file for bankruptcy and cease operations.

The airline, which originally launched in 2009 as a tourism charter company, announced in 2017 that it would begin flights to North America for under $100 each way. The first routes, between London's Stansted Airport and New York, Boston, Washington, DC, and Toronto, began this spring, as the airline entered an increasingly competitive field of trans-Atlantic low-cost carriers.

In an internal e-mail that surfaced online today, Anders Ludvigsson, Primera's director of operations, shared the airlines plans to file for bankruptcy on October 2.

Ludvigsson's e-mail stated that travel arrangements would be made for flight crews who were located away from their operating bases, suggesting that the airline's operations would imminently cease — forcing stranded passengers to make other arrangements.

Although the e-mail suggested that there would not be external communications from the airline before Tuesday, a statement on the airline's website appeared— seemingly prematurely — on Monday afternoon.

In a statement provided to Business Insider, Primera confirmed the plans to file for bankruptcy, as well as the complete cessation of the airline's operations.

During the several months that Primera operated long-haul flights, the airline was besieged with problems.

Delays in receiving new Airbus A321neo aircraft led to operational difficulties, including delays and cancellations. Customers became vocally unhappy with the airline's spotty performance record, often taking to social media to complain about cancellations and delays receiving compensation.

To fulfill service obligations despite the delayed aircraft deliveries, Primera "wet leased" aircraft and crews, adding a significant expense. In the leaked e-mail, Ludvigsson suggested that the cost of the wet leasing was too high, and Primera was unable to secure additional funding.

A representative for the airline could not immediately confirm plans for passengers who are left stranded by the airline because "all the employees of Primera Air are let go."

In the absence of options from the airline, the UK Civil Aviation Authority issued an advisory encouraging passengers to book their own alternative tickets home. The Authority further elaborated that passengers may be able to file a claim with their credit card issuers or travel insurance providers. </s> European discount airline Primera Air, which offered budget-priced fares between the U.S. and Europe, is suspending all flights and filing for bankruptcy protection.

The airline said on its website Monday, "On this sad day we are saying Goodbye to all of you." It isn't giving information about refunds.

In a statement, directors say Primera couldn't get financing from its bank and spent more than 30 million Euros ($34.7 million) leasing planes and rebuilding one with severe corrosion.

Primera started as a charter airline in Iceland and became one of several budget airlines to offer transatlantic service in recent years, flying to Newark, New Jersey; Washington; Boston and Toronto.

This month, Primera touted new flights next summer between Madrid and North America starting at 149 Euros ($172). </s> LONDON — Hundreds of passengers have been stranded by the abrupt collapse of the British regional airline Flybmi.

The airline said it's filing for administration — a British version of bankruptcy — because of higher fuel costs and uncertainty caused by Britain's upcoming departure from the European Union.

The airline operated 17 jets on routes to 25 European cities. It employed 376 people in Britain, Germany, Sweden and Belgium.

The airline said all flights will be cancelled and advised passengers to seek refunds from credit card issuers, travel agents or travel insurance companies. </s> Primera Air, which expanded into the United States earlier this year and recently announced more flights for next summer, is going out of business.

The European budget carrier said in a statement on its website that it is ceasing operations on Tuesday, Oct. 2.

"On behalf of Primera Air team, we would like to thank you for your loyalty,'' the statement says. "On this sad day we are saying goodbye to all of you.''

It did not provide information on ticket refunds.

The news comes less than than two months after no-frills Primera touted three new U.S.-Europe routes, with fares as low as $149 each way. The airline planned to fly to Brussels from Boston, Newark Liberty and Washington Dulles.

Primera, based in Latvia, announced an expansion into the United States in August 2017. The airline announced six flights from Newark Liberty and Boston to London, Birmingham, England, and Paris on Airbus A321neo planes. The flights began earlier this year.
Danish airline Primera Air collapses into bankruptcy and announces that it is ceasing all operations at midnight on Monday.