EUJet goes under

EUJet has gone bust leaving 5,000 passengers stranded throughout the UK and mainland Europe, plus a legacy of tens of thousands of unfulfilled bookings.

PlaneStation, which owns the Kent-based airline and its KentInternationalAirport hub, has faced “a serious difficulty with its bankers”, according to a statement from EUJet.

Struggling under a £25 million debt, the five-year-old airline has been unable to retain its financiers’ support. It is therefore seeking voluntary administration and expected to name its administrator tomorrow.

Monarch Scheduled and EasyJet have offered to fly home any affected passengers for a flat £25 fee if they present booking confirmations at their overseas desks.

Federation of Tour Operators director-general Andy Cooper said it was “particularly concerning” EUJet had gone bust during summer’s busiest period.

A spokeswoman for Thomas Cook Airlines said the failure highlighted the value of ATOL-bonded dynamic packaging brands such as Flexibletrips, which offer consumers full financial protection should an airline collapse. She said more than 10 clients who booked with EUJet via Flexibletrips would be brought home at no cost. About Flexibletrips 100 clients had booked to travel with the airline.