Flybmi passengers 'frustrated' by flight cancellations after airline's collapse

Flybmi passengers have spoken of their frustration after thousands had their travel plans disrupted by the airline's collapse.

Hannah Price was due to fly from Brussels to Bristol on Monday and had already checked in when she learnt the company had fallen into administration, with all of its flights cancelled .

She (Munich: SOQ.MU - news) fears she will not recoup the cost of her fare because she used a debit card for the booking, rather than a credit card which offers greater legal protection if a firm goes bust.

Ms Price told Sky News: "Unfortunately for me, I was supposed to be flying home with them in less than 48 hours to Bristol. I don't think that's going to happen now.

"I know for a fact on Mondays there are a lot of Flybmi flights that leave Brussels Airport so I'm not looking forward to the frenzy...if I can even get a flight out of the country that day. So yeah, very frustrating."

Civil engineer Danny McLaughlin had 14 flights booked with Flybmi between City of Derry Airport and London Stansted over the next seven weeks.

The father-of-two, who lives near Buncrana in Co Donegal, said he was shocked when he received a text message telling him of the airline's demise.

"I know airlines and things have been saying this for quite a while but it just came as a bolt out of the blue," he said.

"I feel sorry for the staff. I haven't reached the angry stage yet, I probably will.

"I probably will get a bit annoyed as the weekend goes on. And on Monday morning when I can't get to work."

The City of Derry Airport said it is "reviewing options" to resume a route to Stansted after Flybmi provided the only direct air connection between Londonderry and London.

Meanwhile, Richard Edwards tweeted that he and his family had gone through security at Bristol Airport when he was told his Flybmi flight to Munich had been cancelled.

"Great start to our holiday," he tweeted.

"En route with... the family by taxi to Heathrow as our @flybmi from Bristol to Munich (which had previously been changed from Southampton) was cancelled with no explanation after we had gone through security!"