Scottish airline Flyglobespan and parent travel company Globespan have fallen into administration, stranding thousands of holidaymakers abroad.

Scotland’s biggest airline Flyglobespan has gone into administration, leaving thousands of UK holidaymakers stranded.

Parent company, Globespan, went into administration on Wednesday (16 December), with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) appointed as administrators for the Scottish travel firm.

All flights with Flyglobespan have been cancelled with immediate effect and around 800 jobs will be lost.

The airline, which mostly operates from Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow Prestwick, flew more than 1.5 million passengers last year on 12,000 flights.

Thousands of UK tourists have found themselves stranded abroad at the news of Flyglobespan’s collapse. Flights bought directly through the airline will not be covered by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and therefore holidaymakers will have to make their own arrangements to get home.

The administrators have stated that other airlines may be able to offer special repatriation fares to help Flyglobespan customers. Easyjet and Ryanair have both offered Flyglobespan customers rescue packages on certain routes for £60.

According to the BBC, around 4,500 passengers are currently stranded in destinations abroad including Spain, Portugal, Cyprus and Egypt. The CAA will repatriate approximately 1,100 of them.

Customers who booked a package holiday through Globespan should be protected under the Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (ATOL) scheme.

People who booked on a credit card may be protected by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and some travel insurance policies cover the collapse of an airline.

However, refunds will not be given for cancelled flights, holidays or accommodation for those with no protection.