European airline cancels UK flights amid Brexit uncertainty
Exact cause of change to carrier's schedule remains a mystery but affected airport claims Blue Air was 'unable to receive the necessary clarity' to offer services amid current political 'impasse'
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Your support makes all the difference.Brexit uncertainty has been blamed after a European airline cancelled flights to the UK, leaving British holidaymakers stranded.
Romania’s Blue Air, which links several UK cities to destinations across Europe, reportedly informed passengers hoping to depart from Liverpool that their flights were cancelled.
A spokesperson for the city’s John Lennon Airport claimed “the current Brexit impasse” meant the carrier had been “unable to receive the necessary clarity” to offer the flights.
However the airline did not respond to requests for comment and the precise reason for the cancellations remained a mystery.
Brexit uncertainty has caused problems for carriers across Europe but it is not known if the political turmoil was a factor in Blue Air reducing its UK operations.
Dozens of passengers expecting to fly to Rome and Alicante complained their flights with Blue Air had been cancelled on Wednesday night.
Blue Air currently serves Liverpool, Luton, Birmingham and Glasgow in the UK.
The airline announced earlier in February that it was downsizing its operations at Liverpool, where the airline plans to offer service from Bacau and Bucharest only.
However tickets are still available for its services to other destinations beyond the end of March, when the new schedule is due to kick in.
Affected passengers said they were told by email their Blue Air flights to or from Liverpool would be cancelled due to “operational reasons”.
One of those affected, who asked to remain anonymous, tweeted: “They’re [Blue Air] not answering the phone to anybody, they sent a form in Romanian to claim a refund, then block me on twitter so I can’t contact them.”
Another Blue Air passenger, Dale Swinson, wrote: “Worst treatment I have ever had, left me in limbo on a holiday that was a present for my girlfriend and the customer service when you finally get through is atrocious!”
A spokesman for John Lennon Airport said: “Blue Air has successfully operated its based aircraft for two years in Liverpool serving a wide range of routes.
“Unfortunately, as a Romanian Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holder, the current Brexit impasse means that the carrier has been unable to receive the necessary clarity regarding their ability to operate seventh freedom services which are currently possible under EU Open Skies.
“The carrier will continue to serve Liverpool John Lennon Airport and will increase flights this summer to Bucharest and Bacau.”
Seventh freedom services under the EU Open Skies agreement refer to flights between countries which are not an airline’s home country.
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