The Commission for Aviation Regulation is still trying to establish how many passengers are stranded in Spain following the collapse of tour operator JetGreen.
JetGreen Airways, which sold low-cost flights to Alicante and Malaga on the Internet, had been using an Icelandic airline to operate the flights. It announced yesterday it had ceased trading after just eight days in operation, and it is believed JetGreen's backers have lost around €2 million.
They decided not to continue funding the operation due to poor seat sales. Just 16 JetGreen flights took off since the operator began trading.
A spokeswoman for the regulator said a team was working with the airline to establish how many people were affected by the collapse and how many are still in Spain. She said it appeared word had spread very quickly of the collapse of the airline among people in Malaga and Alicante who had expected to fly home with JetGreen.
However, she agreed it was conceivable some people who travelled to Spain with JetGreen are still unaware of the operator's collapse.
It is understood hundreds of passengers may be stranded. The aviator will examine the possibility of a charter flight to bring them home, but they may have to buy flights from another airline and claim a refund.
A bond, paid to the aviation regulator as part of the tour operator's licensing requirement, will be used to pay any claims.
Those who have bought tickets from JetGreen have been urged to establish whether they can obtain a refund from either their credit card firm or their insurance company. Where this is not possible, they may submit a claim to the Commission for Aviation Regulation. Application forms are available on the commission's website at www.aviationreg.ie
Further information on the number of passengers affected is expected to emerge later today.