Flybe

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This article is about the airline that launched in 2022. For the original Flybe that ceased operations in 2020, see Flybe (1979–2020).

Flybe
Flybe Logo.svg
IATA ICAO Callsign
BE[1] BEE JERSEY
Founded13 September 2020; 19 months ago (2020-09-13)[2]
Commenced operations13 April 2022; 14 days ago (2022-04-13)[3]
AOC #2470[4]
Hubs
Fleet size2 (+3)
Destinations16[5]
Parent companyCyrus Capital Partners
Websitewww.flybe.com

Flybe (pronounced /ˈflaɪˌbiː/), styled as flybe, is a British airline based in Birmingham, England.[6]

History[edit]

Main article: Flybe (1979–2020)

The airline traces its history back to Jersey European Airways, which was set up in 1979 following the merger of Intra Airways and Express Air Services. The firm was renamed British European in 2000 and Flybe in 2002. In November 2006, Flybe purchased BA Connect, thereby becoming the largest regional airline in Europe.

On 5 March 2020, Flybe filed for administration and ceased all operations.

Relaunch[edit]

On 19 October 2020, reports emerged that Lucien Farrell, in charge of former shareholder Cyrus Capital's European office, had formed a new company, Thyme Opco, to purchase the Flybe brand and relaunch the airline, subject to regulatory approvals.[7] The new owner planned to "start small and restore regional connectivity in the UK" from 2021.[8] On 1 December 2020, Thyme Opco applied for a UK operating licence.[9] Thyme Opco also registered a 21-year-old de Havilland Canada Dash 8 Q400, which was expected to be the first aircraft for the 'new Flybe',[10] though this particular aircraft was subsequently transferred to PAL Airlines in Canada.[11]

In April 2021, the British Civil Aviation Authority granted the new airline an operating licence as well as Type A and B route licences, enabling the carrier to operate both charter and scheduled services.[citation needed] The new company also obtained 86 slots at Heathrow for the summer 2021 season, to be used for flights to Edinburgh and Aberdeen,[12] though the airline has since transferred them to use on other European routes.[citation needed]

The 'original' Flybe company was renamed FBE Realisations 2021 Limited, with Thyme Opco Limited becoming Flybe Limited.[13][14]

On 3 June 2021, the operating licence for the original company was revoked following an unsuccessful appeal to the Transport Secretary. Despite initial beliefs that its legacy slots at UK airports had returned to the slot coordinator, this was shown not to be the case by coordinator ACL.[15] The new operating company also leased Heathrow slots from British Airways for routes to Edinburgh and Aberdeen.[16]

On 26 October 2021, the new Flybe Limited confirmed that it had appointed David Pflieger as its Chief Executive.[17] This closely followed the appearance of an ex-Flybe Q400, registered as G-JECX, which had been painted with a new purple-and-white livery.[18] In November 2021, the airline announced that it had picked Birmingham Airport as its new base, with operations scheduled to begin in early 2022 to "key regions across the UK and EU".[19]

On 16 March 2022, Flybe announced that Belfast would be the airline's second operating base.[20] The company slogan is Smile and go the extra mile.[21] The first flight took place between Birmingham and Belfast on 13 April 2022.[3] The company aims to operate up to 530 flights per week on 23 routes, using a fleet of up to 32 Q400s.[22]

Corporate affairs[edit]

Parent company[edit]

Flybe Limited, founded in September 2020 as Thyme Opco, is a private limited company which is owned by Thyme Investco Limited - the majority of whose shares are held by DLP Holdings SARL,[23][24] an affiliate of American hedge fund Cyrus Capital Partners. This is the same company which was involved in the purchase of the original Flybe in 2019.[25]

Fare structures[edit]

Flybe's Q400 airliners are outfitted with 78 all-economy seats [26] and several different ticketing options are offered to passengers:

  • "Flybe Lite" is the most basic fare type, with passengers being offered a non-refundable ticket with a single carry-on bag.
  • "Flybe Smart" passengers are offered up to 15 kg of hold baggage and a reserved seat.
  • "Flybe Plus" passengers are offered priority boarding, a reserved seat, and either a valet bag or up to 23 kg of hold baggage. "Flybe Plus" is the only fully-refundable fare option.

All passengers receive a complimentary drink and snack on board, regardless of fare.[27]

Destinations[edit]

Flybe currently sells tickets on 22 routes to 16 destinations:[28]

Country City Airport Notes Refs
France Avignon Avignon Airport Seasonal [28]
Brest Brest Bretagne Airport Seasonal [28]
Toulon Toulon Airport Seasonal [28]
Netherlands Amsterdam Amsterdam Airport Schiphol [28]
United Kingdom Aberdeen Aberdeen Airport [28]
Belfast George Best Belfast City Airport Hub [28]
Birmingham Birmingham Airport Hub [28]
East Midlands East Midlands Airport [28]
Edinburgh Edinburgh Airport [28]
Glasgow Glasgow Airport [28]
Inverness Inverness Airport [28]
Leeds Leeds Bradford Airport [28]
London Heathrow Airport [28]
Manchester Manchester Airport [28]
Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle International Airport [28]
Southampton Southampton Airport [28]

Fleet[edit]

G-JECX at Birmingham Airport, January 2022.

As of 13 April 2022, the Flybe fleet consists of the following aircraft:[29][30]

Flybe fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
de Havilland Canada Dash 8 Q400 3 3 78
Total 2 3

Flybe intends to operate an initial fleet of 8 Q400s, expected to expand to 32 aircraft.[22]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "IATA – Airline and Airport Code Search". iata.org. Archived from the original on 15 December 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  2. ^ "Certificate of Incorporation of a Private Limited Company". Companies House. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  3. ^ a b Orban, André (13 April 2022). "Flybe's first flight takes to the skies from Birmingham Airport". Aviation24.be. Archived from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Holders of air operator certificates". www.caa.co.uk. UK Civil Aviation Authority. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Cheap flights to and from the UK and Europe". flybe.com. Flybe. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Flybe announces Birmingham Airport as new headquarters". BBC News. 17 November 2021. Archived from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Flybe set to fly again after brand is rescued". BBC News. 19 October 2020. Archived from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  8. ^ Dunn, Graham (20 October 2020). "Interest in revived Flybe shows continued faith in regional opportunity". Flight Global. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  9. ^ Coffey, Helen (3 December 2020). "Flybe could soon take to the skies again". The Independent. Archived from the original on 17 February 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  10. ^ Bailey, Joanna (22 January 2021). "Flybe 2.0 Becoming A Reality With First Aircraft Registration". Simple Flying. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  11. ^ "MSN 4014". Dash 8 World. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  12. ^ Bailey, Joanna (28 April 2021). "Flybe 2.0 Set To Launch With 86 Coveted Heathrow Slots". Simple Flying. Archived from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  13. ^ "Change of name notice". Companies House.
  14. ^ "Change of name by resolution". Companies House.
  15. ^ Telford, William (13 October 2021). "Administrators look to claim cash from new Flybe company". Business Live. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  16. ^ "Completed Slot Trades - Airport Coordination Limited". ACL Airport Coordination Limited Ltd. 16 May 2017. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  17. ^ Ltd, Jacobs Media Group. "Reborn Flybe appoints chief executive". Travel Weekly. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  18. ^ Perry, Dominic (26 October 2021). "Flybe appoints ex-Ravn Air chief to spearhead relaunch as crew recruitment push continues". Flight Global. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  19. ^ Perry, Dominic (17 November 2021). "Flybe picks Birmingham as first UK base and HQ". Flight Global. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  20. ^ Bodell, Luke (17 March 2022). "The New Flybe Will Launch Ticket Sales Next Week". Simple Flying. Archived from the original on 17 March 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  21. ^ "Safety Manager - Aviation". LinkedIn.
  22. ^ a b King, Ian (13 April 2022). "Flybe sets out to boldly achieve what no airline has done before". Sky News.
  23. ^ "Flybe Ltd Companies House Confirmation Statement 2021". Companies House.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ "Thyme Investco Ltd Companies House Confirmation Statement 2021". Companies House.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ "Formation of Aviation Joint Venture – Company Announcement - FT.com". markets.ft.com. Archived from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  26. ^ "Flybe Bombardier Q400 Seating Chart - Updated April 2022 - SeatLink". www.seatlink.com. Archived from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  27. ^ https://flybefaq.zendesk.com/hc/en-gb/articles/5393707623825-Onboard-refreshments
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Routes Operated | Let's go places | flybe". www.flybe.com. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  29. ^ "Flybe Fleet Details and History". www.planespotters.net. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  30. ^ "Flybe Ltd Fleet List". jethroseu.co.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2022.

External links[edit]

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