Regional airline Loganair has stepped in to take over key Scottish air routes after Flybmi announced it was entering administration.

The Scottish operator will provide flights from Aberdeen to Bristol, Oslo and Esbjerg, replacing services previously provided by Flybmi.

It comes after the East-Midlands based airline announced on Saturday that it had ceased operations and filed for administration because of Brexit “uncertainty” and “spikes in fuel and carbon costs”.

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Loganair said it would provide daily services Monday to Friday between Aberdeen and Esjberg - which is Denmark’s fifth largest city - making this the airline’s first service to the country.

Meanwhile, flights between Aberdeen and Oslo and the service from Aberdeen to Bristol will operate on weekdays as well as Sundays.

Loganair already operates 50 flights a week from Aberdeen Airport.

The airline’s managing director Jonathan Hinkles said: “It’s always really sad to see an airline go out of business and our thoughts are with all those affected - particularly staff members.

“We’re working on employment opportunities for pilots, cabin crew and engineering support staff to strengthen the Loganair team.”

He added: “There is no doubt that trading is tough but Loganair is - we believe - in the strongest position of any UK regional airline.

“We’ve done a lot of work over the last two years to secure our future as an independent regional airline and despite the challenges posed by fuel and carbon costs, and Brexit, we are strongly placed to take up new opportunities as they arise.

“Our three new routes from Aberdeen complement our existing activity across a distinct geographical area, acting as a logical fit with our network - while also markedly increasing the airline’s presence in Aberdeen.”

Read more Loganair chief warns of more airline failures

It is understood 1,500 passengers had been scheduled to travel with Flybmi, which has a total of 376 employees, on Sunday.

Scot Caroline Stewart recently moved from Aberdeen to Esbjerg in Denmark and had been due to visit family and friends in Aberdeen next month.

“My best friend is getting married next month so I was heading home for her hen party and her wedding and it’s also my granda’s 88th birthday party,” she told BBC Scotland before Loganair’s announcement.

She added: “We didn’t use a credit card, we just used a debit card and it will be too expensive for us to rebook.

“There was absolutely no warning. My husband only booked his flight two days ago and the money has been taken out of his account.”

Customers have been advised to contact their payment card issuer to get a refund for flights, while those who have booked through a travel agent or partner airlines are advised to contact their agent or airline for details of their options.

A Flybmi statement said: “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.

“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.

“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.”