The last SkyWork flight landed in Bern Airport on Wednesday night, as ongoing financial difficulties forced the company to declare itself bankrupt. Some 11,000 passengers are affected.
The company, founded in 1983, said that negotiations with a potential partner to pull the company from recurring funding shortfalls that intensified in October last year had failed.
As a result, “SkyWork Airlines has decided to hand in its operating license to FOCA [the Federal Office of Civil Aviation]”, the company wrote in a press releaseExternal link. It will also file for bankruptcy, and a court will decide on next steps.
The company employed over 100 people and its six turboprop Saab 2000 planes served 22 European destinations from its hub just outside the Swiss capital.
The grounding of its fleet leaves 11,000 pre-booked passengers facing the challenge of securing refunds or alternative travel arrangements.
Urs Holderegger, a FOCA spokesman, warned that while those who booked via travel agencies may succeed in securing compensation, those who booked directly with the bankrupt airline may not have such luck.
In a bankruptcy case, European passenger rights no longer apply: “an insolvent company no longer exists, therefore there are no compensation obligations”, he told Swiss state broadcaster, SRF.
Those with SkyWork bookings are advised not to come to the airport, and rather to contact the booking or travel agent where they initially bought tickets.
Local difficulties
The wind-down of SkyWork also leaves Bern Airport in a difficult situation, as the airline represented 60% of the total flights serving the Swiss capital.
Locals interviewed by SRF were downbeat about the decision, which will likely have negative effects for the emblematic airport, where just this Wednesday one of the last SkyWork flights brought home a triumphant Young Boys Bern soccer team from Zagreb, where they had qualified for the Champions’ League for the first time.
But authorities at the airport – where almost 300,000 passengers pass through each year – said that its existence was not threatened, and that the immediate priority would be to maintain flights to the most popular European destinations SkyWork had served.
The summer service of Helvetic Airways, which flies from Bern to holiday destinations in Italy, Spain, France, and Greece, remains unaffected, the airport confirmed.
The decision also comes as tough news for the struggling airport of Lugano in Southern Switzerland, which had just last week announced that SkyWork would begin serving a route to Geneva in October. Maurizio Merlo, CEO of Lugano Airport, said that the sudden and unexpected nature of SkyWork’s demise left “a bitter taste in the mouth”.
Protein in abdominal fat could help shape obesity treatment
This content was published on
The study analysed fat cells from different locations in the body, and found that those in the abdomen have unique properties.
North African asylum claims fall after rapid Swiss processing
This content was published on
The accelerated procedure, now out of its test phase, has resulted in a significant drop in applications from North African countries.
This content was published on
The artist's song "The Code" focuses on their journey as a nonbinary individual. It is one of the favourites to win this year's contest.
Swiss climate activists block vehicles near Gotthard tunnel
This content was published on
Around ten climate activists briefly blocked the A2 motorway near the northern entrance of the Gotthard tunnel on Thursday.
Watches belonging to Michael Schumacher up for auction
This content was published on
Schumacher's family is auctioning off eight rare watches from his collection in Geneva. The Christie's auction will take place on Monday.
Joya Marleen and Baschi named best solo acts at Swiss Music Awards
This content was published on
St. Gallen singer Joya Marleen and Baschi from Basel were named artists of the year at the Swiss Music Awards 2024 on Wednesday night.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Why Bern Airport struggles to take off
This content was published on
SkyWork Airlines is currently grounded while its management tries to secure its financial future. Why do airlines in the Swiss capital struggle?
This content was published on
The Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) has limited SkyWork’s operating permit to the end of this month because the company is unable to meet its financial commitments for its 2017 and 2018 winter schedule. If the company can ensure a solid financial footing by the time its permit expires on October 31, it…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.