Cobalt Air collapsed overnight, wrecking thousands of holiday plans
Barely two years after launching, Cypriot airline Cobalt Air has announced a complete halt of all operations.
The carrier collapsed practically overnight after they failed to secure long-term financing despite “arduous efforts to keep the airline flying”.
“Cobalt regrets to announce that it will be cancelling all flights as of 23:50 pm on 17 October, 2018, due to an indefinite suspension of Cobalt’s operations. As a result, future flights or services provided by Cobalt will be cancelled and will no longer operate,” the airline said in an official press release.
“Passengers who have un-flown tickets are instructed not to go to Larnaca Airport or any departure airport tomorrow, 18 October 2018, as no Cobalt flights will operate and no Cobalt staff will be present.”
On Wednesday evening, Cyprus ‘s transport minister Vasiliki Anastasiadou pledged state support for all those stranded either in Cyprus or overseas amid the sudden collapse.
Cyprus government will cover cost of cancelled tickets
Anastasiadou said telephone numbers would be announced soon to help the passengers.
“The priority for the ministry is to help the people who have been stranded,” she said, adding the numbers would help provide single tickets for travellers to get back to where they started from.
Anastasiadou added that the cost of the cancelled tickets will be covered by the government, the Cyprus News Agency reported. However, it only refers to people who are in need of a return ticket only.
Passengers that were supposed to travel on Thursday were told to buy an alternative single ticket and seek reimbursement from the ministry.
Cobalt Air operated as a low-budget carrier based at Larnaca airport, Cyprus. The airline was launched with a help of Chinese investors after the country’s flag carrier, Cyprus Airways, ceased operations in 2015.
Cobalt connected Larnaca with Heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester. It also operated services to Beirut, Tel Aviv, Frankfurt, Moscow and Paris.
