Hundreds of passengers were stranded at a major holiday airport today after flights were cancelled following the financial collapse of Denmark-based budget carrier Sterling Airlines.
Two flights to Billund in Denmark - home to the original Legoland - were scrapped at Gatwick airport as well as three to Copenhagen and one to Swedish capital Stockholm. A Gatwick spokeswoman said: "There are about 500-700 passengers involved. A Sterling representative is here and is handing out leaflets explaining the situation."
Sterling, which is owned by Iceland's Northern Travel Holding, also flew from Edinburgh and East Midlands airports, although its Edinburgh flights - to Copenhagen and Stockholm - ceased for the winter earlier this month. It warned passengers that those who had booked direct through its website would not be getting a refund. Those who had booked by credit card were being told to contact their credit card company while those who had booked via a tour operator or travel agency were instructed to contact the operator or agency.
Officials at Sterling - which operates low-frills flights within Scandinavia, and between Scandinavia and a range of European destinations - were not immediately available for comment. But the Star Tours travel agency estimated the number of passengers affected to be 30,000 to 40,000 across Scandinavia.
Scandinavian competitor SAS told Danish national broadcaster DR it would offer stranded Sterling ticket holders free flights back to Denmark from foreign destinations when possible over the next 48 hours. Ryanair launched a €100 rescue fare for Sterling passengers who may have been left stranded. This fare applies to flights returning to Aarhus, Billund, Gothenburg, Oslo (Torp) and Stockholm (Skavsta).
Sterling - which said it was filing for bankruptcy - is the latest in a line of carriers that have ceased operation in recent months. Others have included XL Airways, Zoom and transatlantic luxury airlines Eos, MAXjet and Silverjet. The airline flew to some 40 destinations in Europe with a fleet of around 27 Boeing 737 aircraft, mainly from its hubs in Scandinavian capitals Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm.
Sterling said on its website talks had been conducted with several potential investors, but it had been impossible to make ends meet. "The inevitable result is that Sterling Airlines A/S has no option but to file for bankruptcy," it said. Sterling said its Icelandic owner Palmi Haraldsson had injected 444.5 million Danish crowns ($74.6 million) into the firm, which has struggled with high fuel bills and expansion costs, between July and September 2008.
