The liquidator of collapsed Citywing admits it could be many months before he will be able to refund creditors.

Citywing ceased trading on March 10 after the Czech airline which operated its services lost its UK route licences. Some 8,000 passengers had flights booked with the ticket seller.

Craig Mitchell was appointed liquidator at a creditors’ meeting on March 24 when it was confirmed that Citywing had debts of £1.8m.

In a statement posted on the company’s Facebook page on Tuesday, Mr Mitchell said: ’Unfortunately, due to the nature of liquidations and the specific complexities of this case, I cannot give a date at this time as to when those claims will be paid.

’The reality is it could be many months before I am in a position to make payments to creditors.’

The liquidator once again advised passengers in the first instance to try to reclaim their fares from their respective banks, credit card companies and/or travel insurance, explaining that this ’may prove to be a more expedient way of obtaining a refund’.

He added: ’Please note that successful claims from those sources will be rejected as proofs in the liquidation.’