Major airline enters administration with flights cancelled

Royal Air Philippines is a budget airline based in the Philippines, which first began operations in 2018.

It operates domestic flights in the Philippines and international flights to other Asian countries, including:

• Cambodia
• China
• Hong Kong
• Macau
• South Korea
• Taiwan

Royal Air Philippines started as a charter airline, named Royal Air Charter Service, in 2002, before receiving a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the Civil Aeronautics Board in 2017, allowing it to offer regular commercial flights (which launched in 2018).

“By 2020, the airline had expanded its fleet with the introduction of Airbus A319/A320 jets – this allowed the airline to carry more passengers and offer long-haul routes,” Alternative Airlines added.

Royal Air Philippines enters administration with 4,000 flights cancelled

But Royal Air Philippines has now fallen into administration, with around 4,000 flights between January and March (2026) cancelled as a result.

The airline is currently working to provide affected passengers with refunds, according to the Daily Express.

The airline’s website previously read: “We are working on providing refunds and hope to resume flights at an unspecified date in the future.

“Thank you for your patience and understanding. We eagerly anticipate welcoming you aboard soon.”

Access to the Royal Air Philippines website is no longer available, with those trying to access the website greeted with a “ready when you are” message, with a type of ‘loading’ spinning circle.

The failure of Royal Air Philippines is believed to be a result of decreased flight numbers in recent years, Philstar Global said.

It added: “Royal Air showed signs of partial recovery in 2023 and 2024, when it flew 100,323 and 116,324 international passengers, respectively.

“However, the carrier ferried just 51,764 in the nine months to September 2025, signaling a slowdown.

“The picture is worse on the domestic front, where Royal Air posted a 63 percent dip in passenger traffic to 38,845 in 2024, from 104,473 in 2023.”

UK airlines that have entered liquidation recently

Royal Air Philippines is not the only airline forced to shut down operations, with several UK airlines also entering liquidation recently.

EcoJet Airlines, billed as “the world’s first Electric Airline”, entered liquidation in February after just three years, resulting in the cancellation of all planned flights.

Three other UK airlines entered liquidation in 2025, according to the UK Civil Aviation Authority:

• Blue Islands Limited (November)
• Air Kilroe Limited t/a Eastern Airways (November)
• Play Airlines (September)

Meanwhile, four UK travel companies have also ceased trading in 2026, resulting in the cancellation of flights and holiday packages to destinations around the world.

The four UK travel companies that have closed down in 2026 (so far) are:

• Regen Central Ltd
• Gold Crest Holidays
• Asiara UK Ltd
• Simply Florida Travel Ltd

All four have ceased trading, according to Companies House, and have lost their Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL).