THE collapse of Scottish airline Flyglobespan will affect flights between RAF Brize Norton and the Falkland Islands, it emerged today.

The company had operated twice-weekly charter flights between the west Oxfordshire RAF base and the British territory in the South Atlantic for the Ministry of Defence since winning a four-year contract last year.

But the flights were grounded after the airline went into administration yesterday, sparking fears that islanders and military personnel will be unable to travel over the festive period.

The flights from RAF Brize Norton call at the RAF airfield at Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean to refuel en route to and from the Falklands.

The aircraft carried up to 184 civilian and government passengers on each flight, as well as freight.

The service was the only air link to the islands excpet for a service operated by Chilean airline Lan, from the South American country's capital Santiago.

Flyglobespan cabin crews are reportedly stranded in the Falklands and on Ascension Island.

A spokesman for the MoD said: "We're aware that Flyglobespan has gone into administration and we're currently assessing the wider impact on MoD business."

When it was announced in October last year, the contract was described as the "most economical advantageous solution" to the MoD's passenger, aero-medical and freight requirements.