More airlines to go bust, claims ERA

Category: Travel trends

The European Regional Airline Association (ERA) has spelled out a worrying future for airline travel after it stated that more airlines stood to go bankrupt in the near future.

ERA director general Mike Ambrose said as a result of the September 11th attacks, airlines had already tightened their belts, with the newest developments really testing airlines as they had nothing major to allow cutbacks on.

He added that although that cycle was long over, resources were being depleted for airlines due to extra costs that plane operators had to pay to cover charges imposed by the government - something Mr Ambrose believes is a situation that airlines with only the deepest pockets can afford.

Reacting to news of XL and Zoom going bankrupt, he said: "I am sure that there are going to be others, I know of three more carriers who I believe will be gone in the next six weeks.

"It is a serious situation."

Last month, a number of ferries helped out travellers stranded on mainland Europe after XL went bust and was unable to fulfil its return flights.

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