Copyright Mechanicsburg Patriot News
An international airline abruptly canceled all flights last week after it ceased operations. And as for whether passengers who booked with the company will receive refunds, well, that depends. According to Sky News, Eastern Airways — which describes itself as “one of Europe’s most experienced charter and scheduled service operators,” and which provides services for pro-sports leagues such as certain Premier League soccer teams — very suddenly “suspended operations” and cancelled all flights. BBC reports that Eastern Airways filed a notice of intention to appoint an administrator last Monday. This is a formal move in the country that grants a temporary legal protection against creditors for a company as it prepares for insolvency proceedings. The airline mainly operated across the United Kingdom, Ireland and Europe. It also ran service supported by the Scottish government for people in certain areas, BBC states. Upon hearing this news, many customers who booked with Eastern Airways undoubtedly wondered what the refund situation would be like. According to head of travel at The Sun, Lisa Minot, customers have “several options depending on their circumstances.” “If you need to still fly, you’ll need to find — and pay — for an alternative flight with another airline,” she tells the publication. “Many airlines offer rescue fares when competitors go bust, offering lower prices for those who can prove they were due to fly with the airline that has failed.” “For those without scheduled airline failure insurance, you will sadly be left out of pocket,” she added. “If you are due to fly with Eastern Airways in the coming days, weeks or months, you should put a claim in straight away with your debit or credit card provider. They should refund you without fuss. “For those who are due to fly with Eastern Airways as part of a package holiday they have bought from a travel agent or tour operator, your package holiday provider is obliged to find an alternative way for you to reach your destination or offer you a full refund.” For more information regarding Eastern Airways and refunds, customers are encouraged to go to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) website.
