Another budget airline collapses
Last updated at 11:45 29 October 2008
Denmark-based budget airline Sterling filed for bankruptcy today, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded at Gatwick
Hundreds of passengers were stranded at a major holiday airport today after flights were cancelled following the financial collapse of a budget airline.
Two flights to Billund in Denmark - home to the original Legoland - were scrapped at Gatwick airport as well as three to Copenhagen and one to Swedish capital Stockholm.
The carrier involved - Denmark-based Sterling Airlines - warned passengers that those who had booked direct through its website would not be getting a refund.
Sterling, which is Icelandic-owned, also flew from Edinburgh and East Midlands airports, although its Edinburgh flights - to Copenhagen and Stockholm - ceased for the winter earlier this month.
Chaos: Passengers were left stranded after the collapse of XL earlier this year
The first of today's flights from Gatwick - to Billund - should have departed at 8.30am.
A Gatwick spokeswoman said today: 'There are about 500-700 passengers involved. A Sterling representative is here and is handing out leaflets explaining the situation.'
Those who had booked by credit card were being told to contact their credit card company while those who had booked via a tour operator or travel agency were instructed to contact the operator or agency.
Sterling - which said it was filing for bankruptcy - is the latest in a line of carriers that have ceased operation in recent months.
Others have included XL Airways, Zoom and transatlantic luxury airlines Eos, MAXjet and Silverjet.
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