Flybmi collapse: City of Derry Airport urgently trying to find new airline for Stansted route

The City of Derry airport in Northern Ireland is urgently trying to find a new carrier for its route to Stansted Airport after the regional airline Flybmi went into administration.

All flights between the two airports have been cancelled with immediate effect, with the airline blaming Brexit uncertainty and rises in fuel and carbon costs for the decision to cease operations.

Only on Thursday, the government announced it would continue to provide funding for the route.

Talks are now underway to get the service up and running again with a different airline.

"Obviously there is concern given that this is the single direct air connection between Londonderry and London," East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell said.

"The Transport Secretary indicated that he is hopeful that a new operator will agree to take on the route.

"There needs to be as seamless a transition as possible from flybmi to the new operator in order that the travelling public suffer as little as possible."