Fly Gibraltar

Fly Gibraltar was a proposed foreign owned low-cost airline to be based in Gibraltar. It claimed it would operate services to destinations in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[1] The airline stated that it would commence flying in April 2007.

A later announcement said its operation was on hold until June or perhaps spring 2008.[2] A further announcement was made in June 2007 stating that Fly Gibraltar would not be executing any operations due to insurmountable financial issues.

History

Press releases about The proposed airline were issued in August 2006, describing it as wholly owned by OEM (International) Ltd, a construction company which later had their building contracts cancelled by the Government of Gibraltar. It initially claimed it would conduct its first year of operations under the air operator certificate of Astraeus.[1] After extended delays in starting operation, in June 2007 it was announced it would not be starting operations.[3] The reason given was that it was unable to deposit the £10m insurance bond with the Civil Aviation Authority required to commence business.

There is no evidence that the company ever actually contacted either Astraeus or the CAA. Within weeks of the high profile presentation, airline industry sources in the UK were saying it was pie in the sky.[4]

The Government of Gibraltar said it would offer the promised routes to other airlines.[5]

Destinations

The airline claimed it would fly between Gibraltar and Dublin, Cork, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester and London Stansted Airport.[6]

The airline website appeared briefly and claimed it would hold online bookings as from March 2007, but is no longer functional.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Flight International 3 April 2007
  2. ↑ "Fly Gibraltar could delay flights until next year". 24 April 2007. Archived from the original on 24 February 2008.
  3. ↑ Oliva, F. "Lack of investment puts Fly Gibraltar on hold". Chronicle. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007.
  4. ↑ Panorama: Have we been taken for a ride?
  5. ↑ "Fly Gibraltar fails to launch". Retrieved 2007-12-13.
  6. ↑ Initial launch