Islas Airways announced this Monday the temporary closure of the airline. It did so at a press conference, in which the president of the airline, Miguel Concepción, appeared, who assured that he was taking this decision to reorganize the company and its economic situation. The airline had been suspending flights and canceling operations for days until it finally decided to close temporarily. However, it will continue to act as a charter flight company.
The company's situation had worsened in recent days, when the crew decided not to go to work, after not being paid for some time. This Monday, 57 percent of Islas Airways' operations in the Canary Islands were canceled. In Lanzarote, five flights were suspended out of eleven that had been scheduled.
Given the announcement of the temporary cessation of operations of the regular services of the Islas Airways company, the Ministry of Development has launched an action plan to guarantee attention to affected passengers and compliance with their rights, in accordance with Community Regulation No. 261/2004.
The Ministry of Development has established a Coordination and Monitoring Commission, made up of the Government Delegate in the Canary Islands, María del Carmen Hernández Bento, representatives of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Government of the Canary Islands, State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA), airline officials and the director of Canary Islands airports of Aena.
This Commission is responsible, among other tasks, for guaranteeing attention to affected passengers. For its part, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation is coordinating with Islas Airways, as well as with other airlines, the relocation of those passengers who have not been able to fly. Likewise, in coordination with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Aena is reinforcing the information and advice points for those affected.
In addition, it has been recalled that the authority responsible for dealing with claims from passengers affected by a cancellation is the State Aviation Safety Agency (AESA), which reports to this Ministry. Passengers who want to obtain more information can do so by calling 91.396.82.10 or on the website http://www.seguridadaerea.es/AESA/LANG_CASTELLANO/PASAJEROS/