Regional operator Flybe secures new five-year franchise arrangement with Eastern Airways
REGIONAL airline Flybe has secured a new five-year franchise arrangement with Eastern Airways to fly the six routes previously operated under a similar agreement with Loganair from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester.
Eastern Airways, a wellestablished UK regional airline based at Humberside Airport, will operate its scheduled route network under the Flybe brand and agree a joint revenue and risk sharing agreement.
Four Eastern Embraer 170 aircraft carrying Flybe branding will cover the AberdeenSumburgh, Glasgow-Sumburgh, Edinburgh-Sumburgh, GlasgowManchester, Aberdeen-Kirkwall and Glasgow-Stornoway routes.
Contracts are expected to be finalised within the next few weeks, with tickets now on sale for travel from September 1.
Flybe, which claims to be Europe’s largest regional airline, announced last year that its current arrangement with Loganair will end in August.
Flybe’s chief executive Christine Ourmieres-Widener said the new franchise would “significantly improve” connectivity for Scotland as well as strengthen the airline’s network.
“We already operate flights at a number of common airports and this will enable passengers to connect to a greater number of destinations across the UK and into Europe. Eastern will operate routes from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Manchester to offer an enhanced service to passengers based in Scotland and travelling to Scotland,” she said. “Combined with our flights to Heathrow from Edinburgh and Aberdeen, this demonstrates our strong commitment to serving Scotland.”
Richard Lake, chief executive of Eastern Airways, said the alliance would benefit both airlines by strengthening
Flybe’s network and broadening Eastern’s distribution by enhancing connections for travellers through its global airline association.
“We have specialised in fixed-wing flying in the oil and gas market for many years and our expertise will provide a greater opportunity to further develop offshore connectivity to Flybe’s network,” he said.
Eastern operates scheduled domestic and short-haul international services plus private charter services, and has hubs at Aberdeen, Norwich, Teesside, Newcastle, Southampton, Leeds, Cardiff and Paris.