Passengers warned as airline suspends flights

Passengers have been warned not to turn up for flights booked on low-cost carrier Cobalt after it suspended operations indefinitely.

The Cypriot airline, which operates services from Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick, said that all flights were being cancelled as of 11.50pm on Wednesday.

It is the latest budget carrier to run into difficulties after Denmark's Primera Air ceased trading earlier this month.

Cobalt said in a statement on Wednesday: "Future (Frankfurt: 923414 - news) flights or services provided by Cobalt will be cancelled and will no longer operate.

"Passengers who have un-flown tickets are instructed not to go to Larnaca airport or any departure airport tomorrow, October 18, as no Cobalt flights will operate and no Cobalt staff will be present."

It was not immediately clear what would happen with future bookings on Cobalt.

Cyprus's transport minister Vassiliki Anastassiadou said alternative arrangements would be made, the semi-official Cyprus News Agency reported.

Passengers reacted with concern on Twitter (Frankfurt: A1W6XZ - news) , with one writing: "There's nothing quite like starting your day frantically trying to replace all your flight bookings!"

The airline, which employs about 200 people, has been operating flights out of Cyprus since 2016.

It had expanded rapidly since its launch to about 20 destinations, adding a business class and, recently, a frequent flyer programme.

Reports in Cypriot media outlets this week suggested Cobalt's mainly Chinese backers had difficulty channelling funds to the airline, which operated with six leased Airbus aircraft.

Cobalt had hired many pilots from former state carrier Cyprus Airways after its demise in 2015.

Another company has since named itself Cyprus Airways after acquiring the brand from the Cypriot state.