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Stobart Air ceases operations
Stobart Air has ceased trading, leaving regional flights it operated for Aer Lingus and BA up in the air.
Stobart has called in liquidators after failing to find a buyer and up to 500 jobs are at risk.
Aer Lingus said Stobart Air had notified it late on Friday that it would stop operating with immediate effect.
It leaves passengers booked on some routes stranded.
Aer Lingus will take over five routes and BA City Flyer will operate two.
Aer Lingus said it will operate replacement flights from Dublin to Edinburgh and Manchester as well as flights from Belfast City ‘for at least the next week.’
It leaves the future of several other routes still uncertain.
Stobart also flew KLM Cityhopper services from Amsterdam.
Stobart Air said it was an ‘unavoidable and difficult decision’ after a proposed sale fell through.
"Last April, Stobart Air announced that a new owner had been identified. However, it has emerged that the funding to support this transaction is no longer in place and the new owner is now unable to conclude the transaction," the airline said.
"In the absence of any alternative purchasers or sources of funding, the Board of Stobart Air must take the necessary, unavoidable and difficult decision to seek to appoint a liquidator."
Stobart Air owner Esken agreed a deal to sell it to start-up aviation firm Ettyl.
However, Ettyl said it found financial irregularities at one of its financial backers and was unable to go through with the transaction.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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