It has not been a particularly easy time to be an airline.
With jet fuel prices continuing to sit at highs unseen in years, almost every major carrier has had to rework their networks to scrap any unprofitable routes while the cost of oil ended up dealing the final blow to beleaguered Spirit Airlines in the biggest U.S. airline collapse this decade.
Along with Spirit, many smaller airlines in different pockets of the world have also canceled flights to the point of total or near shutdowns. At the start of April, Mexican holiday airline Magnicharters canceled all flights for two weeks while German giant Lufthansa shut down its regional carrier CityLine a year earlier than initially announced “in view of significantly increased kerosene prices.” British charter airline Pen-Avia was also among the carriers to recently lose its operating license due to lack of funds.
Skybus suspends flight between Exeter and Isles of Scilly until June
Launched in 1984 to serve the remote Isles of Scilly archipelago off the coast of Cornwall, British charter airline Skybus announced that it will suspend flights between Exeter (EXT) in southwestern England and St Mary’s Airport (ISC) in the Isles of Scilly until June 4.
The airline will continue to run routes to the islands from Land’s End and Newquay (NQY) in Cornwall on which those with disrupted travel will be offered the choice to take a full refund or rebook travel on the other two routes currently being flown.
Related: Another airline shuts down and cancels all flights
Skybus Managing Director Jonathan Hinkles blamed the cancelation on a “turbulent start” to 2026 that included a storm which damaged two hangars and one of its Twin Otter planes at the start of January.
Shutterstock
“We look forward to welcoming Exeter back to our schedule”: Skybus
“We intend that this temporary change will provide greater stability across the Skybus operation,” Hinkles said in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming Exeter back to our schedule from 4 June and take this opportunity both to apologise [British spelling] again for this unwelcome start to the summer 2026 season and to thank our customers for their patience and understanding.”
- Spirit Airlines: The largest airline shutdown of the year occurred when Spirit Airlines canceled all remaining flights on May 2. While the airline had filed for Chapter 11 protection twice, the skyrocketing price of jet fuel ended up dealing the final blow.
- Magnicharters: While not yet fully shut down, the Mexican low-cost airline canceled all flights until May 2026 in a shutdown that left thousands stranded.
- Starflite Aviation: Houston-based Starflite Aviation had its AOC license revoked in March 2026, amid FAA claims that owners falsified pilot training records to bypass safety audits.
- AlpAvia: Slovenian charter airline AlpAvia also shut down in March 2026 over financial problems.
- H-Bird: Charter airline H-Bird was declared bankrupt by a Swedish judge after losing its operating license at the end of 2025.
More Travel News:
- Airline to launch unusual new flight to Cayman Islands from the U.S.
- What you can expect at Disneyland’s new ‘World of Frozen’
- Unexpected country is most luxurious travel destination for 2026
- U.S. government issues strange warning on Ireland travel
The airline had also phased out its routes between Newquay and London Gatwick (LGW) after local politicians started drawing attention to the fact that they were running up to 80% empty for most of the year.
Related: National airline cancels flights after bankruptcy filing
