Passengers warned as budget airline Cobalt suspends flights

Low-cost carrier Cobalt has suspended operations indefinitely and warned passengers booked on its flights not to turn up.

The Cypriot airline, which operates services from Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick, said 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 advised passengers not to go to airports as "no Cobalt flights will operate and no Cobalt staff will be present".

It added: "We sincerely apologise once again and would like to thank our very loyal customers for their support over the last two years of Cobalt operations."

Cyprus' ministry of transport advised stranded passengers to book a flight home on another airline and keep receipts to be eligible for reimbursement.

Transport minister Vassiliki Anastassiadou wrote on Twitter (Frankfurt: A1W6XZ - news) : "Hard times. Our thoughts are close to the staff of Cobalt. At the same time, we (will) do everything possible to minimise the inconvenience of passengers."

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

Travel firms who sold ATOL-protected package holidays with Cobalt flights are responsible for providing alternative transport home or full refunds for those with future bookings.

However for those who made flight-only purchases the only protection is through card providers or travel insurance policies.

Romanian airline Blue Air is offering "rescue fares" between Larnaca and Luton for customers who had planned a flight between October and March.

Cobalt, 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.