LTE flights still grounded
[October 20th 2008]
Passengers booked with Spanish airline LTE are having to make alternative arrangements as its flights remain suspended.
The future of the low cost Spanish airline hangs in the balance today as authorities in Spain decide whether to renew its operating licence. In the meantime LTE is not taking any more bookings and has not made any more announcements.
In a statement on Friday, LTE managing director Michael Harrington said: “Our shareholders are trying to find a solution and we hope to give you more news in the next few days”.
LTE operated weekly flights from Norwich airport to Alicante, Barcelona and Palma, and the airport said on Friday that passengers with return flights to Norwich should make alternative arrangements to fly back.
In a press statement Norwich airport said: “If they had booked an ATOL-protected package with tour operator Sunways Holidays, then the tour operator is responsible for repatriation, or refunds for customers yet to travel. The airport advises customers with forward bookings to contact the travel agency with which they booked, or the airline directly”.
LTE started flights from Norwich in July and had appeared to be performing well. “We are deeply disappointed at this news, which has come completely out of the blue. Bookings on LTE flights from Norwich had been doing well and we had high hopes for the success of their services,” said Norwich International Airport managing director, Richard Jenner.
“This situation is more a reflection of the current economic situation and wider problems faced by some airlines, rather than LTE’s performance at Norwich. At the moment LTE tells us that this suspension is only temporary, and some parts of the airline are still operating. LTE is not in liquidation or bankruptcy. It is too early to say if these flights will be reinstated,” Jenner added.
As well as scheduled flights from Norwich, LTE also operated charter flights for some of the UK’s biggest tour operators including Thomas Cook, First Choice and Thomson. These tour operators are now arranging alternative flights to ensure that customers get back home.
Avro and Cosmos, which had 350 passengers in Tenerife due to return with LTE to Birmingham and Glasgow airports, arranged a Monarch flight to Manchester airport instead followed by coach transfers to their home airport.
This year has already seen a long list of airlines going bust including XL Airways, Futura, Zoom and Silverjet and it remains to be seen if LTE will be another casualty.
Written by: Nick Purdom
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