Flyglobespan UPDATE

It appears that those good folk of easyJet have stepped in to help stranded Flyglobespan passengers while spotting a commercial opportunity.

Over at their website,

"Following the announcement that Globespan has suspended its operations, easyJet, the largest UK airline, will offer those passengers stranded a special rescue fee of £60 (including taxes) to return home on the routes where our flights overlap with those of Globespan. These are:

Faro to Glasgow, Malaga to Glasgow, Alicante to Glasgow, Faro to Edinburgh, Malaga to Edinburgh, Alicante to Edinburgh and Geneva to Edinburgh.

Thanks to Mike Souter, easyJet have confirmed this offer is being offered to passengers stranded in the UK going the other way as well.

easyJet has made this offer available to any Globespan passengers due return home on these routes during the fourteen days (offer available until 23:59 - 30th December).

To claim the exclusive £60 rescue package, passengers should call easyJet customer services on one of the numbers listed below.

Passengers must provide the agent with their Globespan booking reference number and present their Globespan booking confirmation at check-in as further proof of booking.

From UK: 0871 244 2366

From Spain: 807 0700 70

From Switzerland: 0900 000 258

If you are calling from a country not listed above, you can call us on +44 871 244 2366.

Flyglobespan goes bust

Yesterday I suspect passengers who had flights booked with Flyglobespan over the Christmas break were gloating somewhat over fellow passengers who had flights booked with British Airways.

How things have changed in 24 hours.

Unfortunately Flyglobespan, Scotland's biggest airline has now called in the administrators meaning that the Civil Aviation Authority is now responsible for bringing around 1,100 holidaymakers home who are currently on Globespan package holidays.

These are the lucky ones.

For the remaining 3,500 who booked direct and are overseas, the bad news is they are not covered, there are also around 27,000 people who have flights booked in the future through the ATOL insurance scheme, and around 90,000 people who have advanced bookings but have no ATOL insurance protection.

However, they may be protected under their own personal travel insurance or through their credit card transaction.

Flyglobespan was set up in 2002, employed 800 staff and operated from five UK airports, including Prestwick, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

The staff have now all been made redundant, that must be an awful blow the week before Christmas. And not good news for Scotland.