Romanian carrier Blue Air grounded by government

Romanian low-cost carrier Blue Air has been forced to suspend all flights from Romania after the government froze its bank accounts.

Blue Air said in a statement that services to Romania should operate today “according to the published schedule”, but aircraft would then be grounded until at least Monday September 12.

The carrier hit out at the government saying the “impetuous decision” to freeze its accounts had left it unable to pay its daily operating costs.

The suspension was ordered by the Romanian environment ministry after the head of the national consumer protection authority, the ANPC, issued a statement telling consumers to “stop buying Blue Air tickets”.

Blue Air described the Romanian government action as “irresponsible”.

The carrier – which operates from Luton, Birmingham, Liverpool and Glasgow airports – said it was in talks with “two large investment firms” in London on taking a shareholding in the carrier and “supporting the company in recovering the losses suffered” during the Covid pandemic when it was grounded.

It gave no reason for the government’s decision but blamed it “for significant destruction of passengers’ trust in Blue Air, generating losses of over €5 million euros”.

However, the airline acknowledged it had been under increasing pressure from suppliers to pay for services in advance.