Flightline airline goes bust – 235 redundant

Flightline Ltd, the Southend airport-based airline, went into administration yesterday, making 235 staff redundant.

The airline ran a fleet of six BAE 146 aircraft that it leased out to businesses and group charters.

Its demise hit Portsmouth Football Club, whose travel provider Thomson Sport had booked players on to Flightline to fly to a fixture in Germany last night.

KPMG was appointed administrators and the Civil Aviation Authority has suspended Flightline’s Air Operating Certificate. 

Jane Moriarty of KPMG said: “We are now undergoing an orderly wind-down of business, with the aim of realising the value of any of the remaining assets for the benefit of creditors.”

Flightline had operated for 15 years and was an important contractor for the oil industry, for which it ran a shuttle service from Aberdeen.

It adapted aircraft to suit clients' needs, and configurations included 48 business-class seats, 80 five-abreast seats or 110 economy-class seats.

The airline has no connection with the Flightline Essex travel agency.

By: Chris Gray