Eastern Airways on brink of collapse putting with jobs at risk

UK regional airline Eastern Airways is on the brink of collapse, putting hundreds of jobs at risk.

On Monday it filed a notice of intention to appoint an administrator, and several regional flights were cancelled including between between Teesside and Aberdeen.

Eastern Airways operates across the UK, Ireland and Europe, and has run and important service supported by the Scottish government for people in the northernmost point of mainland UK.

Eastern Airways and The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have been approached for comment.

A notice to appoint administrators is a formal step that gives the business up to 10 days of legal protection from creditors while it explores rescue options, restructures, or prepares for insolvency proceedings.

Airport flight departure boards showed Eastern Airways flights had been cancelled, including a 0700 flight from Newquay to London Gatwick, 1815 flight from Teesside to Aberdeen, 1430 from Aberdeen to Wick and 1645 from Aberdeen to Teesside.

Eastern Airways is one of the UK’s last remaining regional airlines.

Eastern Airways has been an operator in the oil and gas sector industry, flying between UK cities with a significant presence in the sector such as Aberdeen, Humberside, Teesside and Wick.

It faced financial challenges following the pandemic, due in part to falling passenger numbers.

The airline was launched in 1997 and is based at Humberside Airport in North Lincolnshire. The airline also operates out of East Midlands, Jersey, Manchester, Newcastle, Newquay and Southampton, as well as Esbjerg in Denmark.

It has run a crucial weekday service between Wick John O’Groats Airport and Aberdeen, which is seen as vital for people living in the most northerly point on mainland UK, which was supported by a Public Service Obligation (PSO) by the Scottish Government.

Eastern Airways initially built up its network of scheduled services around the North Sea offshore industry with flights up the east coast of England to Aberdeen.