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UK AirlineCeases Operations, Blames Brexit

by Reuters

   LONDON --

   British regional airline Flybmi has gone into administration and
   canceled all flights immediately, the company said in a statement
   Saturday, blaming Brexit uncertainty as one of the reasons for its
   collapse.

   A spokesperson for British Midland Regional Ltd. said the company had
   made the decision because of increased fuel and carbon costs and of
   uncertainty arising from Britain's plans to leave the European Union on
   March 29.

   The airline, based in the English East Midlands, operates 17 planes
   flying to 25 European cities. It employs 376 people in Britain,
   Germany, Sweden and Belgium.

   "We sincerely regret that this course of action has become the only
   option open to us, but the challenges, particularly those created by
   Brexit, have proven to be insurmountable," the company said.

   Spikes in fuel and carbon costs had undermined efforts to move the
   airline into profit.

   It added: "Current trading and future prospects have also been
   seriously affected by the uncertainty created by the Brexit process,
   which has led to our inability to secure valuable flying contracts in
   Europe and lack of confidence around bmi's ability to continue flying
   between destinations in Europe."

   The airline, which said it carried 522,000 passengers on 29,000 flights
   in 2018, advised customers with bookings to contact their bank or
   payment card issuer to obtain refunds.