Stobart Air Q&A: Is my flight cancelled and how do I get a refund?

An Airbus A320 aircraft, operated by Aer Lingus Group - Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Travellers have been left stranded after flight operator Stobart Air collapsed into liquidation, causing a raft of cancellations at airports across Britain and Ireland.

The firm operated flights for airlines Aer Lingus Group, British Airways and KLM. It flew 900 flights a week before it was forced to cut 94pc of its routes in March 2020, when coronavirus hit. Now the firm has folded entirely after the pandemic killed its business.

Here is everything you need to know about who is affected, what your rights are and how to get your money back.

Who is affected?

People travelling on Aer Lingus flights between Britain and Ireland, including Northern Ireland, and people travelling on flights within the island of Ireland. Aer Lingus is contacting all affected customers directly. BA and KLM customers are not affected.

What are my rights?

Passengers of flights cancelled because of the collapse of Stobart Air are entitled to refunds and can book onto another Aer Lingus flight not operated by the collapsed firm. Passengers may also be able to claim compensation and expenses incurred because of the liquidation under EU law.

Can I get a refund?

Yes, you can apply to Aer Lingus for a full cash refund. Customers must fill in a “disrupted flights refund form”, found on the airline’s website. Passengers can apply for compensation by filling out a “post travel enquiry form”, also found on the site.

You can also apply for a “refund voucher” to the value of your ticket which can be used for other flights. Customers will be charged the difference on more expensive flights.

Can I change my flight?

Yes, you can change the date of your trip on the “manage trip” section of the Aer Lingus site. The airline has said it will waive fees on any changes made before 31 December 2021, but said name change and other fees may still apply. The fee-free window will last until the end of the year.

Which flight routes are affected?

Stobart Air operated 12 routes from Dublin and Belfast. Passengers booked on the following Aer Lingus Regional routes have been told to check the Aer Lingus website for updated information on refund or rebooking options:

• Belfast Airport to: Edinburgh; Exeter; East Midlands; Leeds; Birmingham and Manchester.

• Dublin Airport to: Kerry; Donegal; Edinburgh; Glasgow; Manchester and Newquay.