FLIGHTS GROUNDED: Another European carrier collapses

Another European carrier has taken a financial hit so hard that it has been forced to cease all operations & declare bankruptcy. This time, it’s Berlin-based Germania.

The privately owned European carrier filed for bankruptcy on Monday (4 February 2019) and grounded all flights on Tuesday (5 February 2019) after failing to acquire state financial aid.

The carrier’s fall follows on from the collapse of Monarch Airlines, Primera Air and Cobalt Air in 2018.

Germania confirmed the grounding of its 37 aircraft, which flew mostly to the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Middle East, in an online statement.

Affected passengers were advised in the statement to contact their Travel Advisor or tour operator to organise alternative arrangements. However, those who booked directly through the airline will receive “no entititlement to substitute carriage”.

Germania Chief Executive, Karsten Balke, apologised to affected passengers and thanks employees who had done “their best to secure reliable and stable flight operations – even in the stressful weeks”.

“Unfortunately, we were ultimately unable to bring our financing efforts to cover a short-term liquidity need to a positive conclusion,” he explained. “We very much regret that consequently, our only option was to file for insolvency.”

“It is of course the impact that this step will have on our employees that we regret the most.”

Karsten Balke, Germania Fluggesellschaft mbH Chief Executive

“All of them as a team always did their best to secure reliable and stable flight operations – even in the stressful weeks behind us,” he added.

“I would like to thank all of them from the bottom of my heart. I apologise to our passengers who now cannot take their Germania flight as planned.”

• READ: Travel Advisors step in to rescue affected travellers
• READ: European carrier Cobalt Air ground all flights
• READ: Travellers told to ‘find alternative flights’

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