UK airline Eastern Airways to disappear after 29 years

Eastern Airways, which operated regional services from airports across the UK, entered administration at the end of last year.

The firm suffered financial difficulties after the loss of a contract with airline KLM.

Now, a potential rescue deal for the company and its affiliated company, Air Kilroe, has fallen through.

When did Eastern Airways enter administration?

Eastern Airways suspended operations at the beginning of November, with all operated flights cancelled.

Selina Chadha, Consumer & Markets Director at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said at the time: “We urge passengers planning to fly with this airline not to go to the airport as all Eastern Airways flights are cancelled.

“Eastern Airways customers should visit the Civil Aviation Authority’s website for the latest information.”

Eastern Airways was founded in 1997 and was headquartered at Humberside Airport near the village of Kirmington in North Lincolnshire.

The airline operated domestic, international and private charter flights, with more than a million passengers flying with the airline per rolling year.

It provided 200 flights per day and employed around 330 staff members at its peak, and as well as routes across the UK, it also had some routes to Ireland and Europe.

The airline also had its own hubs in Aberdeen and Humberside.

Eastern Airways to disappear after 29 years as rescue deal fails

A potential rescue deal for Eastern Airlines, and its affiliated company Air Kilroe, has now fallen through, meaning administrators are unable to save the airline.

Administrators RSM UK are now set to break up and sell the businesses’ assets separately, according to a report from The Sun.

A joint sale of Eastern and Air Kilroe had been looked at, as the companies had operated under a single business.

At the time the business collapsed, RSM said “high fixed overheads” and its staff base had “ultimately proved too high to be sustainable”.

Jamie Miller, partner at RSM UK and joint administrator, said at the time: “The unexpected and sudden termination of Eastern’s KLM contract, along with other economic factors, unfortunately left the directors with no choice but to appoint administrators.”

Now, all nine of Eastern Airways’ aircraft fleet have been sold, along with plane parts and components.

Airlines and travel companies that have gone into liquidation or administration in 2026

Four UK airlines have fallen into administration or liquidation this year:

Several airlines also entered liquidation in 2025, according to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, including:

• Blue Islands Limited (UK)
• Air Kilroe Limited t/a Eastern Airways (UK)
• Play Airlines (Iceland)

Several travel companies have also entered administration this year, including:

Luxury UK holiday company Salamander Voyages shut down back in April after entering administration.

Just last month, Groupia Ltd, which also trades as Groupia Golf, GoHen, StagWeb, Groupia School Trips, and Company Away Days, also fell into administration.

It offered customers “the best” group travel holidays to destinations in the UK and abroad, including Prague, Split, and Barcelona.

More than 750,000 travellers have used the company since it began back in 2002, booking everything from stag and hen weekends to golf trips, team tours, and spa breaks.

After 24 years in business, Groupia, which is based in Bath, has now fallen into administration.

Nigel Fox and Christopher Marsden of S&W Partners LLP were appointed joint administrators on June 16, according to the Groupia website.

It continues: “The Company has now ceased taking new bookings, and arrangements are in place with ABTOT to support customers with existing bookings.”

Bookings on or before August 31, 2026, are expected to go ahead as planned, the Groupia website says, thanks to an arrangement with ABTOT (financial protection company).

Any holidays booked with Groupia for after September 1, 2026, have been cancelled.

Have you been affected by any airline or travel company closures so far this year? Let us know in the comments.