Flybe has collapsed it seems

[dajop]

Various media outlets are reporting that the UK's Flybe airlines is about to collapse (or has already collapsed) after "a bid for fresh financial support failed "

Flybe planes 'are impounded' amid fears ailing airline has collapsed

Passengers on the low-cost European carrier have told of how they were carted off planes after hours waiting on the tarmac for take-off including in Manchester and Glasgow.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Collapsed Flybe tells passengers not to travel to airports

All flights grounded after the coronavirus outbreak helps push the airline into administration.

www.bbc.com

Flybe on brink of collapse as coronavirus outbreak takes toll

Covid-19 hits demand for air travel and government stalls over £100m loan

www.theguardian.com

Their problems pre-dated the Coronavirus, but like Ansett, who collapsed 2 days after 9-11, there is absolutely no appetite to sustain marginal operations at this point in time. Probably the first of a string of airlines to fail in the next few months.

 

[leadman]

I flew them a number of times out of East Midlands airport EMA as they had a very handy service to Paris. I was working only 45 minutes away. Great for a weekend hop, but 90% of pax were the cheap tourists and so frustrating going through customs and security there. Sad to see another one go

 

[Franky]

Sky News UK did a fairly lengthy article early this afternoon, confirming the above after the CEO officially released the news.

 

[yld200]

50% of the flights out of Cardiff airport were Flybe. It will be interesting to see what happens a lot of the smaller UK airports.

I had used them a few times for day trips to Dublin for meetings and some flights to Italy which was for handy for Cardiff.

 

[Mr H]

This airline - in its former guise as Jersey European - was the first airline that I joined a frequent flyer programme. Stickers collected in a booklet. I flew them regularly between LCY and BHD as well as occasional flights on other routes. The rot set in when they got rid of J, IMO. That was a sweet offering. Lounge, champagne on boarding, proper hot meal on a tray with wine, chocolates, coffee and brandy, then a bit more brandy

Farewell JY, aka BE.

 

[p--and--t]

Another article

Flybe Collapses And Enters Administration

Flybe has collapsed and entered administration.

loyaltylobby.com

 

[Scarlett]

They must have some decent slots around the major UK airports, as well as their regional ones? Therefore I imagine someone else wanting to buy as much of the business as possible without taking on extra debt.

If say IAG bought assets and rights and established BA Link, theyd potentially be able to cherry pick the most profitable routes to restart ("in a couple of months you see: there are a lot of integration and legal issues we need to sort out first. It's definitely not just riding out the covid-19 related market softness"), when they were ready.

Brexit likely complicates the issue for any rescuers/sharks circling the carcass from outside the UK.

 

[Mr H]

BE used to compete with BD (British Midland) for the domestic routes - with BA operating a few select routes. When BD collapsed, I think BA expanded their domestic operation to take some of the routes, and Loganair took others. BD always had the advantage of slots into LHR. BE had to make do with LGW and lacked an alliance.

I guess that left BE competing against a corporate giant with better connections.

This will be bad news for people in places like Scotland and Northern Ireland where the competition between two airlines kept prices down.

 

[Mr H]

What I used to fly on twice a week.

 

[Mr H]

And I remember seeing these cornflake boxes at airports - but never got to fly on one. I wonder what routes they did?

Where twin prop refers to the wings, not the engines!