Airline flybmi has suspended flights and is filing for administration, blaming uncertainty around Brexit.

Customers have been advised to contact their payment card issuer to get a refund for flights, while those who have booked through a travel agent or partner airlines are advised to contact their agent or airline for details of their options, see full advice below.

British Midland Regional Limited, which had operated 17 regional jet aircraft on routes to 25 European cities, said all flights were cancelled from yesterday.

Difficulties have included increases in fuel and carbon costs, as well as challenges “particularly those created by Brexit”, a statement on the airline’s website said.

A total of 376 employees based in the UK, Germany, Sweden and Belgium are employed by bmi Regional.

The East Midlands-based airline had operated flights from Aberdeen, Bristol, City of Derry, East Midlands, London Stansted and Newcastle in the UK.

Last year, the airline carried 522,000 passengers on 29,000 flights, according to its website.

It is understood there are 1,500 passengers who were scheduled to fly with the airline on Sunday, most of whom are thought to be business passengers.

A statement from the flybmi said: “It is with a heavy heart that we have made this unavoidable announcement today.

“The airline has faced several difficulties, including recent spikes in fuel and carbon costs, the latter arising from the EU’s recent decision to exclude UK airlines from full participation in the Emissions Trading Scheme. These issues have undermined efforts to move the airline into profit.

“Current trading and future prospects have also been seriously affected by the uncertainty created by the Brexit process, which has led to our inability to secure valuable flying contracts in Europe and lack of confidence around bmi’s ability to continue flying between destinations in Europe.

“Additionally, our situation mirrors wider difficulties in the regional airline industry which have been well documented.

“Against this background, it has become impossible for the airline’s shareholders to continue their extensive programme of funding into the business, despite investment totalling over £40 million in the last six years.

“We sincerely regret that this course of action has become the only option open to us, but the challenges, particularly those created by Brexit, have proven to be insurmountable.”

One passenger said he had already gone through security at Bristol airport when his flight was cancelled.

He tweeted: “Our @flybmi from Bristol to Munich - which had previously been changed from Southampton - was cancelled with no explanation after we had gone through security!”

A DfT spokesman said: “It is very disappointing that Flybmi has gone into administration and we know this will be a very difficult time for those who have lost their jobs as a result.

“This will also of course be disruptive for passengers. We are fully focused on supporting those affected and are in contact with airports, airlines and other transport providers to ensure everything possible is being done to help them.”

Brian Strutton, general secretary of the British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA), said: “The collapse of flybmi is devastating news for all employees.

“Regrettably BALPA had no warning or any information from the company at all.

“Our immediate steps will be to support flybmi pilots and explore with the Directors and administrators whether their jobs can be saved.”

Full advice from the Civil Aviation Authority:

  • If you booked directly with British Midland Regional (FlyBMI) and paid by credit card you may be protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and should contact your card issuer for further information.
  • Similarly, if you paid by debit or charge card you should contact your card issuer for advice as you may be able to make a claim under their charge back rules.
  • If you purchased travel insurance that may include cover for scheduled airline failure, known as SAFI, you should contact your insurer.
  • If you did not book directly with British Midland (FlyBMI) and purchased your tickets through an intermediary, you should contact your booking or travel agent in the first instance.
  • If you booked your ticket through an airline ticket agent you should speak to the agent in the first instance; they may have provided travel insurance that includes Scheduled Airline Failure cover.
  • Some airlines and airline ticket agents will offer customers either a specific Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance (SAFI) policy or include similar protection within a broader travel insurance product. The type of protection provided may vary depending on the type of policy taken out. A policy may simply cover the cost of the original tickets purchased or any unused portion, or the additional cost of purchasing new flights, such as new tickets for travel back to the UK.
  • If you have booked flights or a trip that includes flights with a travel firm that holds an ATOL (Air Travel Organiser's Licence) and received confirmation that you are ATOL protected, the travel firm is responsible for your flight arrangements and must either make alternative flights available for you so that your trip can continue or provide a full refund. If you are abroad, it should make arrangements to bring you home at the end of your trip. Contact the ATOL travel firm for more information.

To see this advice in full visit the Civil Aviation Authority website