A planned rescue sale of Eastern Airways collapsed after a preferred bidder withdrew, forcing administrators to sell the regional airline’s assets.
Joint administrators from RSM UK revealed that they had a bidder lined up to buy the Humberside Airport-based airline, but it pulled out on 8 January after initially agreeing to fund the business through to completion.
Administrators had sought to sell Eastern Airways alongside connected company Air Kilroe, but they said no alternative buyer could be secured.
The administrators have therefore abandoned the rescue plan and are selling the assets individually, with Air Kilroe’s fleet of Jetstream 41 aircraft sold to a third party. Aircraft parts have also been sold separately, while leased aircraft have been returned to lessors.
A small number of employees were retained to support the sales, with remaining staff expected to leave once the process is complete.
The airline, which was headquartered at Humberside Airport in North Lincolnshire, entered administration in November 2025, making the majority of its 330 staff members redundant, following the loss of a key KLM Cityhopper contract.
