MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Gibraltar’s air link with Madrid ceases as Spanish airline goes bankrupt

Andalus Líneas Aéreas has mounting debts of over £ 7 million

The bumpy journey of the Spanish airline Andalus Líneas Aéreas has come to an abrupt end following on the week end’s confirmation that the Madrid-Gibraltar air link had been indefinitely suspended, according to an article from the Gibraltar Chronicle.

Spanish Campo newspaper “Europa Sur” reported that the airline, that had sought to fill the gap left after both Iberia and GB Airways pulled out in 2008 and 2009 had confirmed the Madrid flights to and from Gibraltar were indefinitely suspended.

The reports, which come as British Airways is understood to have reconsidered plans to double its daily flights to the Rock, will raise new question marks over the short to medium term prospect of Gibraltar Government getting any substantial direct or indirect return on some £50 million of public money being invested in the new Gibraltar Air Terminal.

Andalus’ schedules have been erratic since day one but the airline defied gloomy reports for months as it struggled to keep alive. Improved train connections to Madrid from both Malaga and Algeciras are amongst a number of factors as well as flights to London often being cheaper than those offered by Andalus into Spain.

This week Spanish officials revealed the company, that owes the Gibraltar Government over £100,000 in landing fees and passenger taxes, has debts of some £7m.

AESA the Spanish air safety authority said this week it is monitoring the airlines activities very closely. But employees complain they are owed money from some months back.

Gibraltar Chief Minister Peter Caruana has consistently defended the £50million investment in the new airport terminal as a vision and investment for future generations of Gibraltarians. He has also pointed to the trilateral Cordoba Agreement (UK, Spain and Gibraltar) as the means of having secured EU liberalisation for the Rock’s airport.