Remembering Flybe

In 2019, Flybe celebrated its 40th birthday after a somewhat chequered few months and years. But at the time, the future seemed brighter for the Exeter-based airline following the takeover by the Connect Airways consortium in February 2019.

However, on March 5, 2020, Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline, went into liquidation, leaving over 2,400 staff without jobs. 

Just over two years later, Flybe 2.0 took to the skies again, operating its first flight from its new home base at Birmingham, bound for Belfast George Best City Airport. Sadly, the reincarnated version collapsed less than a year later, leaving 321 staff members without jobs, many of whom had returned to the airline.

Early Years

The company’s history dates back to 1979, when Jersey European Airways (JEA) was formed following a merger between Jersey-based Intra Airways and Bournemouth-based Express Air Freight. 

In 1983, businessman Jack Walker purchased the airline, merging JEA with his own airline, Blackpool-based Spacegrand, before moving its headquarters to Exeter Airport in 1985. 

JEA went from strength to strength within the UK, launching its first flights to London in 1991 from Jersey and Guernsey to Gatwick. The flights used newly delivered Fokker F27 turboprops resplendent in the airline’s updated livery. 

As expansion continued, the carrier introduced a business class in 1993, making Jersey European the first domestic airline in the UK to offer two classes on board. 

Four British Aerospace (BAe) 146s joined the fleet in 1993, and the airline went on to win the Best UK Regional Airline award for two consecutive years. 

In June 2000, Jersey European briefly changed its name to British European as the carrier expanded its network and strengthened its partnership with Air France. 

Flybe Is Born

However, following the global aviation industry’s struggles following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the airline repositioned itself as a low-cost carrier to better compete in this growing market.

So in July 2002, Flybe was born. 

Flybe became the launch customer for the 118-seat Embraer E195, receiving the first of an eventual 14 in late 2006. 

In 2007, the airline acquired BA Connect, British Airways’ ailing low-cost regional arm. This vastly expanded Flybe’s network and made it Europe’s largest regional airline. 

But the following years were tough. 

In 2010, the carrier floated on the London Stock Market, raising £215 million and allowing an order for 35 Embraer E175 jets to “underpin” its ambitious pan-European expansion.

Sadly, the Brazilian-built jets proved to be more of a hindrance, and Flybe struggled with overcapacity in the ever-changing aviation industry. 

UK low-cost carrier easyJet took up the airline’s valuable Gatwick slots in 2013 for an estimated £20 million. But their woes continued. Saad Hammad became Flybe’s new CEO in mid-2013 and, by November that year, had shaken up the operation, requesting the resignations of three top managers. Out of 158 routes flown at the time, over 60 did not cover the airline’s direct operating expenses and the costs of crew and aircraft.

In March 2014, it was announced that Flybe would undergo a major brand refresh. A new purple livery was introduced, new aircraft interiors were unveiled, and a stylish new cabin crew uniform was introduced, which made it to our ‘Top Ten Cabin Crew Uniforms’ in 2015.

Flybe’s regional focus proved very challenging for the carrier. Operating about 40% of regional UK flights, it was particularly exposed to any issues that arose in this highly competitive market. 

Flybe also struggled with Air Passenger Duty (APD). For journeys within the UK, its bread and butter routes, passengers had to pay APD on departures and arrivals. The levy is thought to have cost the carrier more than £100m a year, something it had long complained about. The airline was finally thrown a lifeline in January 2020 when the UK Government agreed to defer some of Flybe’s tax liabilities as part of a last-ditch rescue deal. 

Just a few months before their 40th anniversary, it was announced that Flybe would be taken over by Connect Airways, a consortium consisting of Virgin Atlantic, Stobart Air, and Cyrus Capital.

In October 2019, it was revealed that the airline would be rebranded as Virgin Connect. The group said the airline would enter a “new era as an independent company under the Virgin brand.”

But sadly, this was as far as the rebrand ever got. 

In February, there was talk that Flybe would receive a £100m loan from the UK government, in addition to an APD tax break. Then-Chancellor Sajid Javid and ex-Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom had promised this.

But both ministers left the government before the loan had been paid out, and with angry objections to the prospect of state aid from British Airways and Ryanair, the chance of any bailout became increasingly slim. Sadly, this, coupled with issues around Brexit and the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic, was the writing on the wall. On March 5, 2020, the airline filed for administration and immediately ceased operations.

Flybe 2.0

Shortly after the airline’s collapse, rumours circulated that a new Flybe could be taking to the skies again, with its new owners Thyme Opco purchasing the well-known brand. On December 1, 2020, its owners applied to the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for a new operating licence, announcing plans to “start small and restore regional connectivity in the UK” from 2021. Its new owners registered a 21-year-old Dash 8 Q400 as G-CLXC, and in April 2021, its new operating licence and route licences were granted. This included 86 slots at London Heathrow for the 2021 summer season, with routes planned to Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

However, the operating licence was revoked two months later, despite an appeal to the Transport Secretary. On October 26, 2021, the airline’s new CEO, David Pflieger, was announced, along with the appearance of an ex-Flybe Q400, registered as G-JECX, painted in a new purple-and-white livery. Birmingham was announced as the airline’s new base, with the expectation that 200 jobs would be created in the next three years. This was followed in March 2022 by Belfast George Best City Airport.

On April 13, 2022, Flybe was back, with the first flight departing to Belfast to much fanfare. The airline had big ambitions, planning on operating up to 530 flights per week on 23 routes, using a fleet of up to 32 Dash 8 Q400s.

Just 12 weeks after its launch, the airline cut three routes and slashed the frequencies of five others, with management blaming the late delivery of aircraft. Various planned route launches were subsequently cancelled, and in the following months, the airline operated flights that were, on average, only half full.

Finally, on the morning of January 28, 2023, the new Flybe was no more. It announced on its website that it had “ceased trading” and immediately cancelled all flights. Administrator Interpath was appointed to look to sell the company as a going concern, stating that it was “engaged with several stakeholders to secure their support for the sales process,” including potential buyers, the CAA to protect the operating licence, and airports to protect Flybe 2.0’s landing slots at London/Heathrow and Amsterdam/Schiphol. However, on February 15, 2023, Interpath announced that no buyer could be found and the airline would be wound down.

Flybe’s Flybaes

Despite all these struggles, over the years, staff have continued to make Flybe one of the UK’s best-loved airlines. They showed incredible professionalism and grace in the face of adversity and were a credit to the airline. It was quite a ride for Flybe, but now it’s time for your engines to rest. You may be gone, but you will never be forgotten. 

Check out our gallery below with some of the fantastic Dollies that made Flybe fly….

© Confessions of a Trolley Dolly