AB Airlines told Aer Rianta at Shannon yesterday it was ceasing operations on the Shannon-Gatwick route as from last evening. The final flight left Shannon with 63 passengers at 6 p.m.
The Aer Rianta spokesman said it was understood the staff of about 40 had been given notice.
"We are disappointed that it should come to this, for we worked very hard with AB Airlines in building up this route," the spokesman said. It was expected the other airlines on the London route would take care of passengers already booked.
"We are also hopeful that with the coming on the route next month of City Flyer, a British Airways franchise, this will satisfy passenger needs on the Gatwick route."
AB Airlines began operations at Shannon in December 1995. However, last February it terminated services to Stansted and Birmingham, which it operated in conjunction with Aer Lingus.
On August 4th the company announced that Mr Peter Copp, of BDO Stoy Hayward, had been appointed by the High Court of Justice as joint administrators for the company. The company added that it would continue to service two routes, London Gatwick to Shannon and Nice. Forward bookings, it was announced, on these routes had been excellent. In a statement issued last night, AB Airlines confirmed it was discontinuing scheduled services between Gatwick and Shannon and Gatwick and Nice with effect from midnight.
The company said it was in discussions with other airlines with regard to passengers who have future bookings on the scheduled services, thought to be about 8,000.
The company said it would be necessary to make some flight and cabin crew redundant, plus a number of staff at Gatwick and Stansted, but that the Shannon operation would close down. The decision is taken to protect ongoing operations.
"We have been successful in safeguarding the exceptionally busy August programme but unless we took this uncompromising decision at this stage the ramifications could be severe."
A spokesman confirmed discussions were taking place with a number of parties for the sale of the airline as a going concern.
