DOZENS of flights have been cancelled at Scottish airports as a result of the collapse Flybe.
Glasgow and Aberdeen airport operators called on the UK Government to urgently review its commitment to the regions and reform Air Passanger Duty after the airline went into administration, putting about 2000 jobs at risk.
Thirty-three flights from Edinburgh Airport to UK destinations have been cancelled - along with one to Paris.
Glasgow Airport has seen 12 flights to UK cities cancelled, while services have also been scrapped at the Aberdeen and Highlands and Islands airports.
Passengers have been advised to contact the airline.
The demise of Flybe was announced in the early hours of Thursday and blamed in part on a drop in demand caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
READ MORE: Flybe: Fears for jobs as airline collapses into administration
A spokesman for AGS Airports, which owns and manages Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports, said: "The loss of Flybe is a devastating blow for the airline's employees and the tens of thousands of passengers who relied on its routes.
"It unfortunately brings into stark focus the fragility of the UK's domestic connectivity. Earlier this year the UK Government committed to levelling up all regions of the UK by conducting a review of regional connectivity.
"It's vital this work is progressed as a matter of urgency and reforming Air Passenger Duty (APD) is part of that review.
"We are already speaking to other airlines about backfilling the routes operated by Flybe for which there is clear demand.
"In the meantime, the advice to passengers who were scheduled to travel with Flybe is not to travel to the airport and to visit the Civil Aviation Authority's website for further advice at www.caa.co.uk/news."
A spokesman for Edinburgh Airport said: "We are sorry that Flybe has gone into administration and ceased operations - our thoughts are with Flybe employees at this difficult time.
READ MORE: Fears for struggling FlyBe as planes are impounded in Glasgow
"We are assessing the impact on our operations and any passengers due to travel with Flybe should not come to the airport as those flights will not be operating.
"Connectivity across the islands of the UK is crucial for families, business and tourists and it is important that the UK Government works quickly and decisively to maintain the links across the UK."
A spokesman for Highlands and Islands Airports said: "Our thoughts are with Flybe employees and customers at this time. Flybe flights from Inverness to both Belfast City Airport and Birmingham Airport are no longer operating. Anyone with a flight booked with Flybe should not travel to the airport and should contact the airline.
"Eastern Airways has confirmed that flights between Wick John O'Groats and Aberdeen will run as normal. Anyone travelling on this route should contact Eastern Airways if they require more information."
Olympic swimmer Hannah Miley said she frequently used the airline to travel to competitions in England and she was on one of the last flights run by Flybe on Wednesday night, which was subject to a long delay.
She told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "I'm quite a regular users so it's such a shame that it has gone into administration and I do feel for all the staff. They did such an incredible job last night. It's really sad to see it go."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here