For the second time in less than three years, the airline flybe has canceled all flights in and out of the UK after going into administration with around 75,000 passengers affected.
The unfortunate development, which is repeating itself today, after it happened for the first time during Pandemic bloodbath, asks some serious questions on Regional Airline business and Models.
Civil Aviation Regulator U.K.- C.A.A. released a statement in this regard saying,
Flybe, which operated scheduled services from Belfast City, Birmingham and Heathrow to airports across the United Kingdom and to Amsterdam and Geneva, has ceased trading.
All Flybe-flights have now been cancelled. Please do not go to the airport as flights will not be operating.
flybe website also read ,
On 28 January 2023, the High Court appointed David Pike and Mike Pink as Joint Administrators of Flybe Limited (“Flybe”).
Flybe has now ceased trading and all flights from and to the UK operated by Flybe have been cancelled and will not be rescheduled.
Founded on November 1, 1979, in Exeter — United Kingdom , Flybe once provided more than half of the UK domestic flights outside London , and dominated the U.K. domestic flight market.
Flybe 1.0 had a sizable market presence in UK's regional connectivity operating as good as 46 routes before pandemic, but the carrier was among the earliest to collapse due to the pandemic battering of air travel.
The Regional airline has closed on 5th of march 2020, when 2400 of its staffs lost their jobs and thousands of passengers saw their flights cancelled.
The airline was rescued last year by Thyme Opco, a company linked to the U.S. hedge fund Cyrus Capital. It was offering service from Belfast, Ireland, and Birmingham and Heathrow to airports across the United Kingdom and to Amsterdam and Geneva.
By global standards, Britain has comparably low use of commercial domestic flights, which could have been an obstacle to the Pandemic Recovery. Sources also say, Expansion plans of Flybe took a big hit due to the delayed delivery of Aircraft and collapse at the end.
Earlier, we all witnessed Flybe removing few of it's routes from sale due to aircraft shortages , and it was understood that the trend of trimming flights could have continued till Summer 2023.
Few months ag, Routes from Belfast City (EGAC) to Aberdeen (EGPD) , Inverness (EGPE) & Newcastle (EGNT) and Birmingham (EGBB) to Aberdeen (EGPD) have been removed from the sale.
fylbe has advice for the passengers and it says,
If you are a passenger affected by this event, please read the advice below.
If you are due to fly with Flybe today or in the future, please DO NOT TRAVEL TO THE AIRPORT unless you have arranged an alternative flight with another airline. Please note that Flybe is unfortunately not able to arrange alternative flights for passengers.
If you have a Flybe booking sold by an intermediary (i.e. not directly with Flybe) that includes travel on a Flybe flight, please contact the relevant airline or booking / travel agent to confirm if there is any impact to your travel plans as the intermediary may be able to support you with alternative arrangements and provide further advice regarding any claim you may need to make.
U.K.- C.A.A. statement reads,
Flybe customers who still need to travel, will need to make their own alternative travel arrangements via other airlines, rail or coach operators.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority will provide advice and information to affected passengers. More information can be found on www.caa.co.uk/news when it is available. Information will also be made available on our Twitter feed @UK_CAA .
Paul Smith, Consumer Director at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said:
“It is always sad to see an airline enter administration and we know that Flybe's decision to stop trading will be 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 Civil Aviation Authority’s website or our Twitter feed for more information.”
David John Pike and Michael Robert Pink were appointed by the High Court on 28 January 2023 as Joint Administrators to help manage the affairs, business and property of Flybe Limited, in accordance with the powers and duties contained in the order appointing them.
The Joint Administrators act as agents of the Company, without personal liability. David John Pike and Michael Robert Pink are authorised to act as insolvency practitioners by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.
Flybe news from the past....
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