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”.
What factors should be taken into account when inheriting Swiss citizenship abroad?
Should there be a limit to the passing on of Swiss citizenship? Or is the current practice too strict and it should still be possible to register after the age of 25?
Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?
Every Swiss citizen has a Heimatort, a place of origin, but many have never visited theirs. What’s your relationship with your Heimatort? What does it mean to you?
Swiss government proposes lifting nuclear power ban
This content was published on
While the centre-right and the energy sector are welcoming the Swiss government’s counter-proposal, the Greens are threatening to call a referendum.
Switzerland provisionally signs agreement on EU programmes
This content was published on
The agreement on EU programmes covers Switzerland’s involvement in initiatives like Horizon Europe, Euratom, ITER, Digital Europe, Erasmus+, and EU4Health.
Record-breaking winter for Swiss tourism driven by foreign visitors
This content was published on
A survey by Switzerland Tourism suggests this winter has outdone last season's record, largely thanks to foreign visitors and favourable weather conditions.
Swiss study predicts rise in global antibiotic use in farming
This content was published on
Global antibiotic use in livestock farming could rise by 2040, says a study by FAO and the University of Zurich. Switzerland expects minimal change.
Initiative calls for 36-week parental leave in Switzerland
This content was published on
The initiative proposes 18 weeks of non-transferable leave per parent, to be taken alternately within ten years of implementation.
Over a quarter of Swiss Catholics consider leaving the church
This content was published on
In Switzerland 27% of Catholics have thought about leaving the church, according to a survey by the Sotomo research centre.
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.