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Flybe problems
Only weeks after resuming operations, flybe has been forced to cancel hundreds of flights between 28 July and 29 October, citing a shortage of available aircraft from lessors. Dave Pflieger, CEO, FlyBe In an apology to passengers on the company website, CEO Dave Pflieger explained: “We were planning to increase flights to existing cities and new destinations such as Aberdeen, Inverness, Newcastle and Southampton. However, the two aircraft leasing companies who were contracted to provide our additional airplanes have now told us that they will be unable to fulfil their commitments until after the summer. "We were able to find and rent aircraft from two separate airlines in Greece and Spain, but those planes are not enough, and the lack of additional aircraft needed for new flying means we need to adjust our future flight schedule. "This is not a decision that I have taken lightly, and as you would expect, we are in daily conversations with all involved to see if anything might change that would allow us to resume our original plans at an earlier date", he added. Pflieger said the carrier had planned to increase flights on its existing routes. "We will still introduce more flights later this year after we receive our delayed aircraft", he said. The following routes have been suspended for the summer: Between Belfast City and Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Manchester, Newcastle and Southampton; between Birmingham and Aberdeen, Belfast City, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Loganair takes over former Flybe route from Isle of Man to Liverpool
Loganair will commence the emergency provision of scheduled services between Isle of Man and Liverpool John Lennon Airport from 12 March - stepping into the breach left by the failure of Flybe. The twice daily service, which maintains essential connectivity for the island, will initially operate using a Saab 340 turboprop aircraft. Patient travel is hugely important to the Isle of Man and Loganair has extensive experience of delivering services to the NHS in Scotland, where patient travel accounts for around 8% of its business. Scotland’s airline, which was formed in 1962, is now the UK’s largest regional airline. Last week it announced that it would be taking over 16 other former Flybe routes using aircraft based in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Newcastle. Jonathan Hinkles, CEO of Loganair said: “We understand how important this link is to the Isle of Man, and we have worked with the Isle of Man government to provide this initial interim service. We fully expect to announce an expansion of our services in the coming weeks.” The carrier already operates services from the Isle of Man to Edinburgh and to London City on behalf of BA CityFlyer.
UK Civil Aviation Authority responds to Flybe collapse
With last night's news that controversial UK airline Flybe, Europes largest regional carrier, which operated local services throughout the United Kingdom, entered into administration, The UK Civil Aviation Authority has announced it will provide advice and information to affected consumers. Discussing the impact of Flybe's woes Richard Moriarty, chief executive at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “This is a sad day for UK aviation and we know that Flybe’s decision to stop trading will be very distressing for all of its employees and customers. “We urge passengers planning to fly with this airline not to go to the airport as all Flybe flights are cancelled. For the latest advice, Flybe customers should visit the CAA website or the CAA’s Twitter feed for more information. Flybe also operated a number of codeshare partnerships with international airlines. If you have an international ticket you should make contact with that airline to confirm your travel arrangements.” Advice for consumers: All Flybe flights, and those operated by Stobart Air, are cancelled. Therefore, please do not go to the airport as your flight will not be operating. Flybe customers are therefore urged to make their own alternative travel arrangements via other airlines, rail or coach operators. For flights operated by Flybe franchise partners (Eastern Airways, and Blue Islands) passengers should make contact with that airline to confirm your travel arrangements. Booked flight with credit or debit card If you booked directly with Flybe and paid by credit card you may be protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and should contact your card issuer for further information. Similarly, if you paid by debit or charge card you should contact your card issuer for advice as you may be able to make a claim under their charge back rules. If you purchased travel insurance that includes cover for scheduled airline failure, known as SAFI, you should contact your insurer. If you did not book directly with Flybe and purchased your tickets through a third party, you should contact your booking or travel agent in the first instance. Negative response letter Passengers who booked directly with the company via either a credit, charge or debit card may alternatively be able to make a claim through their card provider. Some card providers will ask for a negative response letter confirming the position. Passengers may also be able to make a claim against their travel insurer. (This letter will be published on this page shortly) Direct booking with an airline If you paid the airline directly by credit card you might be protected by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. You should check with your card issuer for further advice. You may have similar cover if you paid by Visa debit card and should check with your bank. Booked through an Airline Ticket Agent If you booked your ticket through an airline ticket agent you should speak to the agent in the first instance; they may have provided travel insurance that includes Scheduled Airline Failure cover. Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance (SAFI) Some airlines and airline ticket agents will offer customers either a specific Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance (SAFI) policy or include similar protection within a broader travel insurance product. The type of protection provided may vary depending on the type of policy taken out. A policy may simply cover the cost of the original tickets purchased or any unused portion, or the additional cost of purchasing new flights, such as new tickets for travel back to the UK. Booked with an ATOL holder (Package Holiday) If you have booked a trip that includes flights and hotels with a travel firm that holds an ATOL (Air Travel Organiser's Licence) and received confirmation that you are ATOL protected, the travel firm is responsible for your flight arrangements and must either make alternative flights available for you so that your trip can continue or provide a full refund. If you are abroad, it should make arrangements to bring you home at the end of your trip. Contact the ATOL travel firm for more information.
Flybe: Government offers deal to rescue troubled airline
Embraer E 175 of Flybe In a bid to rescue the troubled airline, the government has sealed a re-payment plan for a significant tax debt, while the company's owners have agreed to invest more money to help the airline recover from losses. "Flybe plays a critical and unique role in the UK aviation system, supporting the development of the regions, providing essential connectivity to businesses and stimulating the growth in trade," said Karen Dee of the Airport Operators Association. Flybe is the largest carrier that serves regional airports, with numerous UK domestic routes not served by other airlines. On Tuesday night, the ministers agreed to a "rescue deal" with the company's shareholders. This includes a potential loan of GBP 100 million, plus a promise to review taxes on domestic flights. The deal is still under negotiations. "This is good news for 2,400 Flybe staff" Brian Strutton, general secretary of the British Airline Pilots Association commented: "This is good news for 2,400 Flybe staff whose jobs are secured and regional communities who would have lost their air connectivity without Flybe." A slow down in demand, as well as an estimated bill of GBP 106m (for air passenger duty), have been weighing down on the troubled airline's finances.
Flybe locked in ‘survival talks’ with over 2,000 jobs at risk
Less than a year after being bailed out, troubled airline Flybe is now in 'survival talks' putting over 2,000 jobs at risk. Flybe, Europe's biggest regional airline which handles 50% of the UK's domestic flights outside London, is once again in deep waters according to industry reports. Over the weekend, reports have surfaced that the airline is at risk of collapse and is said to be locked in survival talks, amidst accumulating losses. The government was also briefed of the situation and advised to facilitate "emergency funding". Earlier in March 2019, Cyrus Capital, Stobart Group and Virgin Atlantic have purchased Flybe's assets, with promises of providing GBP 100 million to save the airline. Flybe is expected to be re-branded as 'Virgin Connect' later this year. However, an official statement from Flybe said: “Flybe continues to focus on providing great service and connectivity for our customers, to ensure that they can continue to travel as planned. We don’t comment on rumour or speculation.”
Flybe upgrades Belfast City and Edinburgh services
Popular European regional airline Flybe has seen its first winter ‘jet-setters’ climb onboard its new re-jigged services from George Best Belfast City and Edinburgh Airports to London City. The new peak-time flights are operated by 98-seat E190 aircraft sourced from Connect Airways’ partner, Stobart Air, and fly at scheduled times during the week when demand from the business communities is particularly high. Lesley McGrogan, head of business at Northern Ireland Women in Business, has welcomed the increased capacity on this popular service for business travellers. “As a regional business organisation, connecting with other areas of the UK is critical but for our members, it’s especially important that they can access same-day travel for work events or meetings. Lesley McGrogan, head of business at Northern Ireland Women in Business with Ken Harrower, Flybe country manager – Ireland & IOM We welcome the enhancements made to the Belfast City – London City route and look forward to working in even closer partnership with our colleagues in London, thanks to the ease and convenience delivered by this route.” This key route to London City from Belfast has been operating for five years and the airline has doubled its frequency since launch, so it now not only offers more seats but also a choice of up to six flights a day; whilst from Edinburgh, Flybe operates 24 flights a week. Full details of Flybe’s 2019/20 Winter schedule are available at www.flybe.com.
Flybe launches 7 new flights for summer 2020
Flybe has unveiled the latest tranche of its new summer 2020 schedule this week, featuring 104 routes comprised of 2,500 flights a week across the UK and regional mainland Europe -- including seven new services; six from London Southend and one between Manchester and Stuttgart. Seats for travel 29 March and 24 October 2020. Additional summer routes will be announced shortly, are available as of today (14 November). Castle Square, Stuttgart As part of a new commercial arrangement with Stobart Air to optimise operations, Flybe will next summer increase significantly its short-haul presence in the London market by offering 10 routes with a choice of up to 214 flights a week to and from London Southend Airport. Six new routes - Belfast City, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Isle of Man and Jersey - will be added to the four existing routes to Caen, Groningen, Newquay and Rennes. The increased London Southend network will be operated by three of Flybe’s own 78-seat De-Havilland Q400 turboprops based in Belfast City, Edinburgh and Glasgow alongside two 70-seat ATR aircraft based at Southend. Highlights of Flybe’s 2020 Summer schedule Douglas Bay, Isle of Man For travel Sunday 29 March – Saturday 24 October 2020 inclusive Six new routes from London Southend Airport – Belfast City (18 flights per week): Edinburgh (18 p/w): Glasgow (18 p/w): Newcastle (13 p/w): Isle of Man (7 p/w): Jersey (up to 2p/w) Four continuing routes from London Southend - Caen, Groningen, Newquay and Rennes 8 winter ski routes extended through Easter - to Chambery from Birmingham, Exeter and Southampton; and to Geneva from Cardiff, Exeter, Isle of Man, Jersey and Southampton
Flybe to be renamed Virgin Connect
The European Commission has approved the sale of Flybe to the newly-formed Connect Airways, which includes Virgin, Stobart Group, Cyrus Capital, earlier this year. Mark Anderson, chief executive of Connect Airways, has unveiled the airline’s new name — Virgin Connect. The airline said it marked the beginning of Flybe’s journey into the future as part of the extended Virgin family. An overall rebrand is scheduled to be completed next year. "We will remain true to our heritage" Anderson said: “We are hugely excited by this milestone in our airline’s 40-year history. We will remain true to our heritage and reason for being, which is offering essential regional connectivity to local communities. At its heart, Virgin Connect will be passionately focused on becoming Europe’s most loved and successful regional airline. “It will offer travel that is simple and convenient with a personal touch. Our customers will naturally expect the same exceptional travel experience as they do with other Virgin-related brands. Whatever their reason for flying, we want our customers to feel loved and know we will always put their needs first in every decision we make,” he added.
Pipeline of female talent in aviation “simply not there,” says Flybe CEO
Following an online survey commissioned by Flybe, the UK based regional airline has announced it will be taking measures to combat the gender imbalance it perceives within the aviation industry. The survey, from independent market research firm OnePoll, looked at the significance of gender had on 1,778 children aged between 6 to 17, when thinking about future careers. What it revealed, though not necessarily surprising, was none the less startling, with girls being “half as likely as boys to aspire to become an aviation engineer” and “four times less likely than boys to want to be a pilot.” It’s not a sense of vertigo putting off girls from taking to the skies either as girls are also approximately three times more likely than boys to pursue a career as cabin crew when they grow up. These findings could be a huge problem for the future of aviation with analysts predicting that airlines will need another 637,000 new pilots to meet global demand by 2035. "The pipeline of female talent in engineering and piloting is simply not there" Responding to the issue Christine Ourmières-Widener, CEO of Flybe, Europe’s largest regional has launched FlyShe, a new programme aimed at inspiring the next generation of young women to consider a wider variety of high trust career options when they grow up, such as becoming a pilot, engineer or a member of senior management. “Aviation is still very much a male-dominated industry. There are many reasons for this gender imbalance, but the main one is that the pipeline of female talent in engineering and piloting is simply not there,” Ourmières-Widener, whose own career path began airline maintenance engineer before climbing the ladder to become the UK’s only female airline CEO. https://youtu.be/2PKueCJCobw Ourmières-Widener went on to say: “Forty-one per cent of Flybe’s workforce is now female with women in every role from apprenticeship to the boardroom. Whilst the majority still comprises cabin crew, there are increasing numbers across all other areas of the business, including pilots and engineers. “We cannot ignore the fact that the research indicated that nearly one in five girls believe there are jobs they cannot do and I firmly believe that young women cannot be what they cannot see. Through FlyShe, we are committed to showing women they can fly high – whatever it is they want to do.”
Winter is coming: Flybe updates seasonal products for two UK hubs
European regional carrier Flybe has announced news of it updated services for the Winter 2018-19 timetable operating from two of it's major UK hubs at Southampton and Exeter airports. Flybe’s updated seasonal offering at Southampton Air will feature changes to five of its most popular routes, with frequency rising from four to five services a day on both the Edinburgh and Glasgow connections. Whereas the Southampton – Newcastle connection will move to three flights per week with the introduction of a new slot on Friday mornings. Alicante Connections to Alicante in Spain and Jersey’s Bergerac Airport will double to twice a week and three times a week, respectively. Roy Kinnear, Flybe’s chief commercial officer said: “We are committed to grow our services from Southampton and so are pleased to offer our customers added choice this winter with more frequency on some of our most popular routes.” Neil Garwood, managing director at Southampton Airport said: “We are delighted that Flybe has decided to expand on their winter seats capacity. Southampton Airport offers a wide range of destinations not only for winter holidays but also for essential business travel, and it’s great to be able to offer even more choice of flights for our passengers.” Flybe’s updated winter product for Exeter Airport boosts flights on three main services with the addition of a second daily flight to Paris Charles de Gaulle, and increasing the number of flights it operates a week to Amsterdam, from seven to 11. In addition, it has added services to Belfast City, Edinburgh and Manchester. Commenting on additional flights Kinnear said: Amsterdam and Paris are both extremely popular destinations in their own right. The added flights, including those to our Manchester hub, will also facilitate more convenient day returns and give enhanced onward connection opportunities to the rest of the world when booked via our codeshare partners or through travel agents.” Exeter Airport managing director, Matt Roach, added : “The news that our local airline is so significantly increasing its flights with us this winter is very welcome. We will have twice as many departures to Paris each week which means a greater choice of flights to the French capital and more opportunities for onward connectivity with Flybe’s partner airline, Air France. It’s also great news that there’ll be more flights and excellent connections to Amsterdam and to Manchester where the weekday frequency is four per day. Many thousands of South West passengers are expected to use these additional services and enjoy the convenience of departing from their local airport.” Tickets for the updated winter services, for travel 28 October 2018 to 30 March 2019, are available now.
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