British regional airline Flybmi, which offered services from various UK airports, has suspended all operations and is filing for administration, it has announced.

Flybmi operates 17 regional jet aircraft on routes to 25 European cities from airports.

Customers who booked directly with Flybmi should contact their payment card issuer to obtain a refund for flights which have not yet taken place.

Those who have booked Flybmi flights via a travel agent or one of Flybmi’s codeshare partner airlines are recommended to contact their agent or airline for details of options available to them.

Customers who have travel insurance should contact their travel insurance provider to find out if they are eligible to claim for cancelled flights and the procedure for doing so.

A spokesperson for Flybmi said: "It is with a heavy heart that we have made this unavoidable announcement today.

"The airline has faced several difficulties, including recent spikes in fuel and carbon costs, the latter arising from the EU's recent decision to exclude UK airlines from full participation in the Emissions Trading Scheme.

"These issues have undermined efforts to move the airline into profit.

"Current trading and future prospects have also been seriously affected by the uncertainty created by the Brexit process, which has led to our inability to secure valuable flying contracts in Europe and lack of confidence around BMI's ability to continue flying between destinations in Europe."

The statement added: "Additionally, our situation mirrors wider difficulties in the regional airline industry which have been well documented.

"Against this background, it has become impossible for the airline's shareholders to continue their extensive programme of funding into the business, despite investment totalling over £40 million in the last six years.

"We sincerely regret that this course of action has become the only option open to us, but the challenges, particularly those created by Brexit, have proven to be insurmountable.

"Our employees have worked extremely hard over the last few years and we would like to thank them for their dedication to the company, as well as all our loyal customers who have flown with us over the last six years."

British Airline Pilots' Association (Balpa) general secretary Brian Strutton said: "The collapse of Flybmi is devastating news for all employees.

"Regrettably Balpa had no warning or any information from the company at all.

"Our immediate steps will be to support Flybmi pilots and explore with the directors and administrators whether their jobs can be saved."

Flights operated by Flybmi served Aberdeen, Bristol, Brno, City of Derry, Dusseldorf, East Midlands, Esbjerg, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Jonkoping, Karlstad, London Stansted, Lublin, Milan Bergamo, Munich, Newcastle, Norrkoping, Nuremburg, Oslo, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Rostock/Laage, Saarbrucken and Stavanger.

Flybmi flights operated under codeshare agreements with code partners included Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Loganair, Air France and Air Dolomiti.