/Flybe’s end will have ‘massive impact’
UK regional airports will suffer a ‘massive impact’ from the failure of Flybe, an industry expert has warned.
Aviation consultant John Strickland said some of the collapsed carrier’s routes will not be taken on by other airlines.
And 100% of the flights at Anglesey and 95% of the flights at Southampton were operated by Flybe. A further 79.5% at Belfast, 78% at Exeter, 65.9% at Newquay, 58.7% at Wick, 57.4% at Jersey and 51.8% at Cardiff were operated by the firm.
Flybe also operates between 30 and 50% of the flights at Guernsey, Isle of Man, Teesside, Humberside, Aberdeen, Birmingham and 29.5% at Doncaster Sheffield.
Mr Strickland said: “There’s going to be a massive impact on regional airports generally.
“The challenge will be to get replacement airlines, which is difficult but not impossible for many of the routes.
“I think it will be down to one or two of the regional players like Loganair, who I would expect to step up to the plate and add some capacity, particularly at airports like Southampton, which has got a short runway so we’re not going to see the likes of easyJet and Ryanair going there.
“There will be some routes left uncovered, just because they are so difficult to operate.”
The airline announced in the early hours of Thursday morning it had ceased trading with immediate effect.
While all of the flights at Anglesey were operated by Flybe, the collapse is not expected to hit flights between the island and Cardiff as the routes are operated by Eastern Airways. Operating as a franchise partner of Flybe, they have their own aircraft and employ their own crews.
The booking service has currently been switched to a phone only operation but a new booking system is expected to be up and running in the next few days.
Teesside Airport, which was saved when it was returned to public ownership, will also not be affected by the loss of Flybe.
Similarly to Anglesey, Eastern Airways, runs the flights from Teesside.
A spokesperson for Eastern Airways said: “Passengers booked to travel on Flybe flights operated by Eastern Airways are to check-in as normal with booking confirmation as flights will be departing as normal.
“Revised details for bookings will be advised via our website in due course.
“As an independent airline, we shall restore the former standalone booking processes and ensure no effect to the regional air services we operate.”
A statement from Cardiff Airport said: “Flights to Anglesey, Teeside and Aberdeen will continue to operate as normal with Eastern Airways. Customers due to fly with Flybe to other destinations are advised not to travel to the airport. All flights with other operators are flying as normal.”
Belfast City Airport is in talks with multiple airlines to fill the routes vacated by Flybe.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps tweeted it was ‘very sad’ Flybe had gone out of business after serving passengers for four decades.
He said the government was ‘urgently working’ with the airline industry to ‘identify how key routes can be re-established by other airlines as soon as possible’, and would be working with Flybe staff ‘to help them find new work in travel or other industries’.
UK Civil Aviation Authority chief Richard Moriarty 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.”
In the immediate aftermath of Flybe’s collapse, a spokesman from the Department for Transport said government staff were on hand at all affected UK airports to assist Flybe passengers in making alternative arrangements.
“The vast majority of Flybe routes are served by different transport options, and we have asked bus and train operators to accept Flybe tickets and other airlines to offer reduced rescue fares to ensure passengers can make their journeys as smoothly as possible,” the spokesman said.
“We know this will be a worrying time for Flybe staff and our Jobcentre Plus Rapid Response Service stands ready to help them find a new job as soon as possible.
“We are working closely with industry to minimise any disruption to routes operated by Flybe, including by looking urgently at how routes not already covered by other airlines can be re-established by the industry.”