My guess is that their employees knew something was going on a week ago, judging from the distracted crew trying to make a position report over the Atlantic last week. I remember at the time listening in on an HF frequency while waiting to call Gander and coming to the conclusion that I wouldn't get on a Primera Air aircraft as a passenger if you paid me.
The news yesterday perhaps fills in some of the pieces about why they didn't seem to know where they were or where they were going. My sympathy for the stranded crews.