Flyglobespan - Destinations

Destinations

It was announced in July 2007 that the current Liverpool to New York and the Ireland West Airport Knock service would be suspended for the winter season from October 30. The company gave the reason as poor passenger figures on the Liverpool flights, particularly inbound passengers from the United States. The passenger figures for Ireland West Airport Knock were higher than expected. The company also admitted to providing a poor operating service since the route was launched on 25 May 2007, which affected the passenger figures. The route will recommence for the Summer 2008 season. The poor operating service was compounded by some PR own goals and sub-standard customer service.

It was announced on 18 October 2007 that the CAA had suspended Flyglobespan's ETOPS certificate, the first time in 15 years a UK operator has lost ETOPS approval. This effectively meant Flyglobespan transatlantic flights were forced to adopt a flight path which never took the aircraft more than an hour away from the nearest airport, in case of engine problems. However, this only applied to Flyglobespan's own aircraft and leased-in aircraft could continue to follow ETOPS rules as these are operated by other airlines with their own ETOPS approval. Flyglobespans ETOPS rating was reinstated at a CAA hearing on 26 October 2007.

Flyglobespan operated services to the Falkland Islands and Ascension Island on behalf of the UK Government. This was in support of the military and civilian communities of those islands, and involved long-haul flights between RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, RAF Ascension Island, and RAF Mount Pleasant on East Falkland. These flights are now supplied by Air Italy on a temporary basis, before another airline puts in for a permanent basis.

The company also operated flights for the UK Ministry of Defence between RAF Brize Norton and staging posts in the Middle East in support of the operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Flyglobespan were planning on introducing a new service in 2010 from Cardiff Airport and Edinburgh Airport to Orlando-Sanford, weekly flights would have departed on a Wednesday from Cardiff and on a Sunday from Edinburgh, renewing direct links with Wales and the USA and a brand new service from Edinburgh.