Flybe: Flights cancelled out of region's airports after airline goes into administration
Europe's largest regional airline, Flybe, has finally collapsed into administration, threatening thousands of jobs and the future viability of a number of airports across the UK.
Flights out of Manchester and Liverpool John Lennon airports have been cancelled, leaving passengers stranded.
Flybe was also the main airline that operated on the Isle of Man.
The company's demise, announced early on Thursday (March 5) and blamed in part on a drop in demand caused by the coronavirus outbreak, sparked fierce condemnation from unions and opposition politicians, who criticised both the airline's owners and the Government for failing to act to save it.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said everyone was "gutted" about the news but added: "We really tried to do everything we could back at the turn of the year.
"Unfortunately, with the situation that has developed with (coronavirus), an already weak company, I'm afraid, just hasn't been able to survive."
The carrier narrowly avoided going bust in January but has continued to lose money since then.
The airline announced in the early hours that it had ceased trading with immediate effect and that administrators had been appointed after crisis talks on Wednesday failed to secure a rescue package.
All Flybe flights and those operated by sister airline Stobart Air were cancelled but some other airlines and all rail operators stepped in to offer help to stranded passengers and staff.
Flybe was bought by a consortium of Virgin Atlantic, Stobart Group and Cyrus Capital in February 2019, after running into earlier financial problems.
In a statement, chief executive Mark Anderson said the company had made "every possible attempt" to avoid collapse but had been "unable to overcome significant funding challenges".
At Manchester Airport there were no passengers at the normally busy Flybe check-in desks.
The airline flew to 16 destinations from Manchester and 45 flights were scheduled for Thursday before the firm folded.
Instead, staff from the firm's administrators were already there and the area was cordoned off, with a sign telling travellers the airline was in administration and directing them to the firm's website or the CAA.
This family were due to fly from Manchester Airport to Euro Disney this morning, but along with thousands of other passengers across the country, their plans were left in disarray.
Manchester Airport said the airline had a sizeable operation there.
It advised travellers not to go to the airport but said staff would be on hand to provide help and information for anyone affected.
It is understood that only a handful of Flybe passengers had arrived for flights from Manchester earlier on Thursday morning, with some able to travel by booking alternative flights.