Blue Air flight cancellations: Brits fume as airline cancels flights 'over Brexit uncertainty'

A file image of a Blue Air flight landing in Luton
Steve Parsons/PA
James Morris14 February 2019
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British holidaymakers have been left fuming after Brexit uncertainty reportedly led an airline to cancel flights from Liverpool's John Lennon Airport.

Dozens of passengers expecting to fly to Rome and Alicante complained their flights with Blue Air had been cancelled - yet they said tickets were still available to buy online.

John Lennon Airport said the "Brexit impasse" had left the Romanian carrier "unable to receive the necessary clarity" around its ability to operate flights between the UK and countries other than Romania.

While Blue Air will continue to operate flights between the two countries, services from the UK to any other country could be affected if the UK leaves the EU without a continuation of current EU legislation.

Blue Air flights between Luton and Turin are also expected to be affected.

Blue Air did not respond to requests for comment but the airline's official Twitter account has blocked at least one angry customer on the social network.

The man, who declined to give his name, said he received an email on Wednesday saying his flight to Rome on March 6 had been cancelled for "operational reasons".

He told the Press Association: "On replying asking for a refund I got an automated response which asked to fill in a form which I think was in Romanian."

Sara Kavanagh, 27, was due to fly to Rome for her wedding anniversary on March 18 but also received a cancellation email.

The marketing manager, from Manchester, said: "We've looked online and they have two other flights available but for three times the price we paid in January.

"My flights were before March 29 so really Brexit shouldn't be an issue here," she added.

A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: "We are committed to ensuring that flights between the UK and EU continue, and the European Commission has published a proposal to make sure this happens.

"This clearly shows that in the event of no deal, both sides are committed to maintaining connectivity."

Reporting by Press Association.

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