(UNITED KINGDOM) Eastern Airways cancelled all flights and suspended operations on October 27, 2025, after filing a Notice of Intention to appoint administrators, throwing travel plans into disarray across several UK regions and placing hundreds of jobs at risk. The UK Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the airline’s move into administration and urged customers not to travel to airports.
“All Eastern Airways operated flights are now cancelled. Therefore, please do not go to the airport as flights will not be operating,” said Selina Chadha, the CAA’s Consumer & Markets Director. The decision took effect immediately, affecting passengers booked from Aberdeen, Humberside, London Gatwick, Newquay, Teesside International, Wick, and other regional points where the carrier had been a steady, if often quiet, presence.
What happened and immediate effects
The company—legally known as Air Kilroe Ltd—lodged a Notice of Intention, a legal filing that protects a business from its creditors for a short period while it seeks a rescue or an orderly wind-down. That step is a precursor to full administration, which the CAA confirmed, and it halts normal operations.
For travellers who turned up at airports the reality was stark: no crews, no flights, and no rebooking desks. The regulator’s guidance was blunt and practical, telling customers to seek alternatives and keep proof of their bookings for any refund or insurance claims.
Important: Do not go to the airport — flights will not operate.
Financial background and causes
Eastern employed about 250 people and had a combined turnover of £60 million in 2024, but reported a net loss of £19.7 million and carried total debt of £26 million that year. The most recent annual report to March 31, 2024, showed revenues of £66.7 million and a modest net profit of £200,000, a margin too thin to weather subsequent shocks.
According to a leading UK aviation figure, the end of a major KLM-linked contract on October 5, 2025, left Eastern with extra aircraft and staff it could not sustain.
“Taking on a major contract with KLM that then went wrong – after they had tooled up with more Embraer jets and crews – looks to have been the downfall. One just hopes the staff get paid at the end of October,” the industry source said.
Fleet and route role
Eastern’s small but varied fleet included:
– British Aerospace Jetstream 41 turboprops
– ATR 72-600s
– Embraer regional jets
These aircraft stitched together routes important to energy sector workers, small businesses, families, and remote communities. The carrier operated Public Service Obligation (PSO) flights and contracts linked to the North Sea energy sector.
The collapse has immediate local impact: pilots, cabin crew, engineers, and office staff were warned they face losing their jobs. At Humberside Airport, the airline’s base, local leaders called the collapse a major blow for airport operations and the wider area that depends on steady air links for work and medical travel.
Guidance for affected passengers
The CAA urged customers to make their own alternative travel arrangements via other airlines, rail, or coach operators, and stressed that passengers should not travel to airports hoping for standby seats.
Practical steps for passengers:
1. Do not travel to the airport.
2. Keep your booking confirmation, boarding pass, or flight confirmation.
3. Explore alternative travel (other airlines, rail, coach).
4. Contact your card issuer or bank for refund options.
5. File an insurance claim if your policy includes scheduled airline failure cover (SAFI).
6. If you booked through a travel agent, contact the agent first.
Refund/claims options:
– Credit card users: may be protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 — contact the card issuer.
– Debit card users: consider a bank chargeback.
– Insurance: claim if SAFI is included.
– Travel agents: may have their own protection or rebooking options.
Note: Claims for compensation for earlier delays or cancellations may be unsecured in insolvency and could be unpaid.
Short-term rail relief
Several rail operators offered short-term help:
– LNER, ScotRail, TransPennine Express, GWR, Northern provided free Standard Class travel to Eastern Airways staff and customers on October 28 and 29, 2025, on suitable routes.
– Affected travellers must show an Eastern employee ID, boarding pass, or flight confirmation to station staff.
This provided a temporary plan B for many passengers over the two days.
Industry and community reaction
Loganair’s chief executive, Luke Farajallah, expressed sympathy and offered practical help:
“The news will be deeply unsettling for everyone at Eastern, from flight crews and engineers to operations and customer service teams. These are professionals who have given so much to keep Britain connected through some of the most challenging times our industry has ever seen.”
Loganair said it would offer rescue fares for stranded passengers and consider applications from “suitably qualified professionals,” offering a potential lifeline for some workers.
Local authorities moved quickly to protect key links:
– Cornwall Council said it was urgently seeking a replacement operator for the London Gatwick–Newquay route and expected an airline could be named within days.
– Aviation analyst Sean Moulton warned: “Time will tell if any of these routes gets picked up but these will be fearful times for Humberside, Teesside, Wick and Newquay as Eastern operated their busiest domestic services.”
Even brief gaps can cause knock-on effects: missed hospital appointments, lost contracts for small firms, and disrupted commutes.
Wider implications and outlook
Analysts note a common pattern after a mid-size regional carrier collapses: a short scramble followed by a reshaping of routes as rivals step in where demand is strongest. In this case:
– Loganair has already moved to help.
– Other operators will assess profitability of former Eastern routes with different aircraft or schedules.
– Councils may consider temporary support for critical links (especially where health care access or essential services are concerned).
However:
– Not every route will return.
– Those that do may have fewer frequencies or higher fares.
Staff and administration process
Immediate concerns for staff:
– Pay and benefits due at the end of the month.
– Administration will define next steps, including any redundancy or creditor outcomes.
Possible staff outcomes:
– Some with type ratings on ATRs or Embraer jets may find roles with other carriers.
– Others may need to retrain or wait for openings.
– Local airports will attempt to fill service gaps, but the loss of based aircraft reduces activity across support services (catering, engineering).
What could happen next
- Parts of Eastern could be sold; a buyer taking assets might restart some routes under new ownership.
- If no buyer emerges, airports and councils will court carriers to cover the busiest flows first.
- The CAA will continue issuing updates and expect airlines and travel agents to handle customers fairly.
Key facts to remember:
– All flights are cancelled.
– The airline is in administration.
– Passengers should keep documents and seek refunds via card issuer, bank chargeback, or insurance.
– Rail operators provided two days’ relief on October 28–29, 2025.
For official passenger guidance from the Civil Aviation Authority, see: CAA guidance for passengers when an airline ceases trading.
Human cost and local impact
Communities that relied on Eastern’s early morning and late evening rotations will feel the loss most. Examples of impacts:
– Oil and gas workers to Aberdeen will face longer or more expensive journeys.
– Students and families lose convenient weekend and short-break links.
– Medical specialists and contractors may lose same-day trip options.
Real-life consequences:
– A Teesside resident with a weekly London commute must weigh a 3 a.m. train against an overnight stay.
– A maintenance team in Wick may need multi-leg travel that reduces productive time on site.
These practical, daily costs do not appear on balance sheets but weigh heavily on families and employers.
Final summary
The collapse of Eastern Airways is a significant regional shock: flights are cancelled, staff face uncertain futures, communities lose vital links, and passengers must seek alternatives and refunds. The route map will be redrawn over time, and while some routes may be restored under new operators, others may not return — or may reappear with reduced frequencies and higher fares. The people who kept Eastern moving will now hope that, in that redrawing, opportunities open up for them too.
This Article in a Nutshell
Eastern Airways (Air Kilroe Ltd) suspended all flights and entered administration on October 27, 2025, after filing a Notice of Intention. The collapse disrupted services across regional UK airports — including Aberdeen, Humberside, Gatwick, Newquay, Teesside and Wick — and put around 250 jobs at risk. The airline had suffered financial losses and carried significant debt after a major KLM-linked contract ended on October 5, 2025, leaving it with excess aircraft and crews. The CAA advised passengers not to travel to airports and to retain booking evidence for refunds or insurance claims. Rail operators offered free Standard Class travel on October 28–29 as temporary relief. Local authorities and rival carriers, including Loganair, are assessing route rescue options, while some staff with specific type ratings may find roles elsewhere. Administration outcomes will determine refunds, redundancies, and whether any routes are reinstated under new operators.
