Budget carriers rush in with Flyglobespan “rescue” deals

Europe’s largest low cost carriers are racing to announce new “rescue deals” in the wake of the collapse of Flyglobespan. Easyjet and Ryanair were among the first carriers to release special fares for Flyglobespan passengers only, but since yesterday have been joined by Flybe and now Bmibaby. Easyjet yesterday introduced £60 tickets to Edinburgh and Glasgow from Alicante, Malaga, Faro and Geneva, valid on travel before midnight on December 30 (see online news December 16). UK-based rival Flybe quickly followed with its £59.99 fares from Malaga, Alicante, Geneva and Chambery to Edinburgh and Glasgow via Southampton or Exeter. These flights can be booked by calling 08717002000 (UK) or +44(0)1392 268529 (outside UK), or at Flybe’s airport ticket desks. But Easyjet fought back today (December 17) by extending its offer to passengers travelling from France, Switzerland, mainland Spain and the Balearics and Portugal to any UK airport, valid until December 24. Passengers stranded in Cyprus, Egypt the Canaries and Madeira can also fly to the UK for £80. Easyjet has issued special telephone numbers for stranded passengers:- •    From UK: 0871 244 2366 •    From Spain: 807 0700 70 •    From Switzerland: 0900 000 258 •    From France: 0826 103 320 Ryanair has also launched special fares from Flyglobespan destinations that it serves from Glasgow Prestwick Airport. Passengers can fly one way from Alicante, Faro, Malaga and Palma for £59, while those in Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Tenerife can travel for £89. The Ryanair deals can be booked by visiting ryanair.com/member/globespanrescuefare. Bmibaby is the latest to offer £50 one-way "rescue fares" (not including taxes and charges) for any Flyglobespan passengers. The British low cost carrier flies to 34 destinations throughout Europe, including Edinburgh and Glasgow via Birmingham, East Midlands and Cardiff. All four airlines ask passengers to have their Flyglobalspan booking references when booking the special fares. Reports today estimate that around 4,500 people were left stranded throughout Europe when Flyglobespan’s parent company Globespan yesterday went into administration. Administrators PriceWaterhouseCoopers advised passengers to contact the call centre on +44 (0)871 271 9000 which went live earlier today. For more information visit flyglobespan.co.uk. Report by Andrew Gough