Transatlantic budget carrier Primera Air grounded for good
Another airline bites the dust.
Primera Air, which offered low cost transatlantic flights to Europe has ceased operations.
Two flights from London Stansted to Washington DC and New York were canceled on Monday.
The failure comes after 14 years of operating for the carrier, which started life as a short-haul operator in Europe and the Middle East.
More recently, it established itself as a low-cost, long-haul airline serving North America with cut-price fares operating to Newark Liberty and Boston from London Stansted.
Just weeks ago, it announced it was adding extra flights next summer from the US, with services from Boston, Newark and Washington to Brussels.
But this summer it suspended all flights from Birmingham to New York and Toronto from June 21, blaming delays in the delivery of its A321neo fleet by Airbus.
In a message to customers, the airline’s Board said it had been working relentlessly to secure long-term financing but had no other choice but to file for bankruptcy.
Director of operations Anders Ludvigson blamed its woes on tough competition, high fuel costs and several ‘unforeseen misfortunate events’ in the last two years, including having to lose an aircraft due to severe corrosion problems, leading to a loss of €10 million.
It said despite a ‘fantastic start’ in 2018, severe delays with new Airbus 321neo aircraft led to forced cancellations and lost revenue.
On its website it thanked customers for their loyalty. "On this sad day we are saying goodbye to all of you," it said.
Management at London Stansted urged customers not to come to the airport as no Primera Air flights will operate and said it would impund one aircraft currently at the airport over unpaid airport fees.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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