Aer Lingus has announced this evening that they will be restoring some of the regional flights terminated by Stobart Air on Friday evening.
Staff at Aer Lingus have been working last night and today to get flights operating again. Of the twelve routes immediately impacted by Stobart Air’s decision to cease trading, Aer Lingus will operate five routes and for at least the next week BA City Flyer will operate two. Alternative operations for the outstanding routes are still being determined.
Aer Lingus (Mainline) will operate the following routes:
Dublin / Edinburgh; Dublin / Manchester; Belfast City / Manchester; Belfast City / Birmingham; Belfast City / Edinburgh;
BA City Flyer will operate the following routes:
Belfast City / Exeter; Belfast City / Leeds Bradford
Alternative operations for flights on following outstanding routes are still being determined.
Dublin / Kerry; Dublin / Donegal; Both of which are part of the by the Public Services Obligation (PSO).
Customers scheduled to travel on the Belfast City / East Midlands; Dublin / Glasgow; Dublin / Newquay routes are being offered alternative flights.
All impacted customers are being contacted directly and offered details of an alternative flight where feasible. All impacted customers also have the option of a full refund.
Aer Lingus wishes to apologise to Aer Lingus Regional customers who have been affected by Stobart Air ceasing operations.
Full detail of the Aer Lingus Regional Replacement Schedule can be found on www.aerlingus.com
Kerry Tourism Industry Federation issued a statement today requesting the Government to act quickly on the collapse of Stobart Air and the appointment of a replacement.
Tourism in Kerry generates €661 million annually, employing some 14,000 people. Covid-19 has forced 82% out of the workforce into unemployment. Tourism supply and support businesses have also been severely affected with thousands of employees out of work and companies struggling to survive.
“Connectivity and transport is the lifeblood to rebuilding tourism,” says Pat O Leary, The chairman of the Kerry Tourism Industry Federation. “The tourism and aviation sector is critical to the economy and viability of life in Kerry, it impacts on every household. It was the first industry to feel the economic devastation of the Covid-19 pandemic and the last to recover. The Government can save vital tourism and businesses connectivity by moving swiftly and confidently appointing a replacement to service these crucial routes.
Our thoughts are with the employees at Stobart Air, our colleagues in Kerry Airport and the tourism and aviation industry who are all working so hard on recovery and reopening plans.
