Flyers’ fury as Branson pulls the plug on Flybe
PASSENGERS last night accused Flybe bosses of ‘betraying’ millions of travellers and staff members as the airline collapsed after months on the brink.
The demise of Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline, yesterday triggered 2,400 job losses and left 15,000 passengers stranded across the UK and Europe.
Flybe’s owners, a consortium including Virgin Atlantic, the Stobart Group and hedge fund firm Cyrus Capital, blamed coronavirus for hastening the ailing airline’s collapse. But the outbreak was rejected as an excuse by furious passengers and staff, who blamed months of mismanagement and ‘broken promises’.
Damning court documents exposed how
Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin group dealt a terminal blow to Flybe by abruptly pulling the plug on Tuesday night.
According to a witness statement filed by Flybe chief Mark Anderson, Virgin Atlantic pulled funding after coronavirus triggered a sharp fall in bookings for its own long-haul business.
Cabin crew member Katherine Densham arrived for her shift at Exeter airport yesterday to find out she had lost her job.
A tearful Mrs Densham said: ‘I thought we’d be safe, but not this time’, before adding: ‘[I need to] try and find something to pay the bills.
‘I’d started getting messages from other crew in the early hours suggesting there was a new problem with Flybe. But I thought it was something and nothing. I set my alarm for 6am but my husband woke me an hour earlier and said: “I’m not sure you’ve got a job”.’
Flybe operated up to 50 UK routes, accounting for 40 per cent of domestic flights, and acted as a lifeline for 9.5 million passengers a year. Many of its destinations are not served by any other airline.
The GMB union said eight regional airports – Anglesey, Southampton, Belfast City, Exeter, Newquay, Wick, Jersey and Cardiff – could face closure. As ministers promised to work ‘urgently’ to reestablish key Flybe routes, critics hit out at the airline’s bosses for failing to save the company.
Brian Strutton, of the British Airline Pilots’ Association, said: ‘Six weeks ago, when the ownership consortium lost confidence, the Government promised a rescue package, apparently at that time recognising the value of Flybe to the regional economy of the UK.
‘Throughout, pilots, cabin crew and ground staff have done their jobs brilliantly, while behind the scenes the owners and, sadly, Government connived to walk away. Flybe staff will feel disgusted at this betrayal and broken promises.’
Leading economist Frances Coppola said: ‘If Flybe’s only problem was coronavirus, Branson and Stobart could have stumped up some cash to tide it over. Truth is, they wanted out of a loss- making investment, and coronavirus is a convenient excuse for an exit.’
The collapse of Flybe left up to 15,000 passengers stranded in airports around the UK and Europe yesterday. Most have been forced to apply for refunds through their banks because Flybe flights are generally not protected by the industry’s Atol scheme.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: ‘We are working with the industry... to look at the impact which this will have and to see what help we can provide.’ Virgin Atlantic said: ‘We are deeply disappointed that Flybe has been unable to secure a viable basis for its continuing operations and has therefore entered administration.’