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Air Wales suspends scheduled services
Air Wales has announced it will cease scheduled services from April 23 with the loss of around 80 jobs.
It blamed rising fuel costs and increased competition from low cost carriers.
Charter and freight services will continue.
Talks to secure a rescue package are understood to have collapsed yesterday, leaving the carrier little choice but to pull the plug.
Swansea-based millionaire Roy Thomas has ploughed £30 million into the airline over the past six years.
Thomas said in a statement: “Increased costs and high competition in the market place have made it virtually impossible to exist as a passenger focused airline.
“Without the vast economies of scale required to sustain and successfully compete in the passenger airline business today, it has become clear that Air Wales now needs to centre on charter and freight services to continue operating in the airline industry.”
Air Wales operated eight routes out of Cardiff, six of which have already been snapped up by rivals.
Eastern Airlines will take over the Brussels, Aberdeen and Newcastle routes, Aer Arann has taken the Cork route and Air Southwest will take over the Manchester and Newquay services.
Passenger booked on Air Wales flights after April 23 will be fully refunded, the airline said.
Meanwhile, people booked to travel from Cardiff to Belfast, Prestwick and Newcastle are being offered a £25 rescue fee by easyJet enabling them to fly from Bristol to Belfast, Newcastle and Glasgow.
Passengers who lost their Air Wales flights from Newcastle, Glasgow and Belfast, are also able to use easyJet’s £25 rate to fly to Bristol airport.
To claim the £25 rescue package, passengers should call easyJet sales centre, on 0905 821 0905 where a maximum of £25 will be charged for the flight. Passengers must provide their Air Wales booking reference number and present their Air Wales booking confirmation at check-in as further proof of booking.
Flights are available for travel between April 24 and September 30.
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