Flybe

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"British European" redirects here. For 1970s airline, see British European Airways.
Flybe
Flybe Logo.svg
IATA ICAO Callsign
BE[1] BEE JERSEY
Founded 1979
as Jersey European Airways
AOC # 601
Operating bases
Hubs
Focus cities
Frequent-flyer program Avios
Airport lounge Flybe Executive Lounge
Fleet size 73[2]
Destinations 102
Company slogan The Fastest Way From A to Flybe.... Faster than road or rail
Headquarters Exeter International Airport
Devon, England
Key people
Revenue Increase £620.5 million
(12 months to 31 March 2014)[4]
Operating income Increase £8.1 million
(12 months to 31 March 2014)[4]
Net income Increase £8.0 million
(12 months to 31 March 2014)[4]
Website flybe.com

Flybe, pronounced /ˈflaɪˌbiː/, is a British low-cost regional airline based in Exeter, and the largest regional airline based in Europe.[5]

The airline launched in 1979 as Jersey European Airways following the merger of Intra Airways and Express Air Services. In 1983 the airline was sold to Walker Steel Group, which also owned Spacegrand Aviation, and the two airlines were merged under the Jersey European name in 1985. Jersey European was renamed British European in 2000 (shortened to "BE"), and received its current name in 2002.

Flybe's parent company Flybe Group PLC is listed on the London Stock Exchange.[6]

History

Early years

File:Jersey European Vickers Viscount.jpg
A Jersey European Vickers Viscount in 1980
Former Jersey European logo, used from 1991–2000

Flybe started operations on 1 November 1979 as Jersey European Airways as a result of a merger of Jersey-based Intra Airways and Bournemouth-based Express Air Services,[7][8] and was founded by John Habin, a resident of Jersey and the majority investor. After selling Aviation Beauport and other business interests, Habin established some key routes from Jersey to the UK, before selling the airline in November 1983 to Jack Walker's Walker Steel Group, which already owned Blackpool-based charter airline Spacegrand Aviation. The two airlines were then run separately, with partially shared management, until 1985 when they amalgamated under the Jersey European name, with the airline's headquarters moving to Exeter.[9]

The airline became British European in June 2000,[10] shortening this title to Flybe on 18 July 2002 and repositioning itself as a full-service, low-fare airline.

On 3 November 2006 it was announced that Flybe would buy BA Connect, except for that airline's services out of London City Airport. The takeover was complete in March 2007. The expanded airline's owners were Rosedale Aviation Holdings (69%), Flybe staff (16%) and – as a result of the BA Connect takeover – International Airlines Group (15%).[11] The acquisition increased Flybe's route network in both the UK and continental Europe, making Flybe Europe's largest regional airline.[12]

On 14 January 2008 it was announced that Flybe had signed a franchise agreement with Scottish airline Loganair, to commence on 26 October 2008 following the termination of Loganair's franchise agreement with British Airways on 25 October 2008. The agreement would see Loganair aircraft flying in Flybe colours on 55 routes from Scotland.[13]

In 2008, in order to avoid losing a £280,000 rebate from Norwich Airport, Flybe hired 172 actors as "fake passengers" on 11 flights to Dublin.[14][15][16] As a result, the environmental group Friends of the Earth called on the government to launch an investigation into the aviation industry.[17]

Chief Executive Officer Jim French was recognised in the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours List with a CBE for his services to the airline industry.[18]

Development since 2010

On 10 December 2010, Flybe floated an IPO on the London Stock Exchange, with trading in shares commencing on the same day. Full public release of shares followed on 15 December 2010. The share price was set at 295p, valuing the company at approximately £215 million, and raising £66 million for the company, half of which was to pay for fleet expansion.[19][20]

On 23 May 2013, it was reported that Flybe had sold its slots at Gatwick airport to Easyjet for £20m, and that the slots would be handed over to Easyjet on 29 March 2014.[21]

On 23 April 2014, Flybe announced that it will launch domestic and international flights from London City from 27 October 2014 after signing a five-year deal with the Docklands Airport. The airline is expecting to carry around 500,000 passengers a year, with all 5 allocated aircraft being based around the Flybe network overnight.[22]

In March 2014, it was announced that Flybe would undergo a major brand refresh. This new scheme included a new purple aircraft livery and new interior features.[23] The first aircraft in the new livery will be the Spirit of Liberum, registered "G-JECY". [24] The aircraft carried the baton into Cardiff Airport for the Queen's Baton Relay in the buildup to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games on 24 May 2014.

In early 2015 it was announced that Flybe had negotiated a six-year agreement with SAS Scandinavian Airlines to fly 4 ATR 72-600 aircraft on their behalf, starting in October 2015.[25]

On 4 March 2015, Flybe announced new routes from Cardiff Airport bringing the number of routes to eleven. Flybe also stated its intention to create a new base at Cardiff Airport by Summer 2015.[26]

On 10 November 2015, Flybe announced that it would base two Embraer 195 aircraft at Doncaster's Robin Hood Airport, starting new routes to Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Jersey, Alicante, Malaga, Faro and Newquay as of 27 March 2016.[27][28] This announcement came on the same day that Flybe announced that they would be pulling flights from Bournemouth.[29]

Corporate affairs

Ownership and structure

Jack Walker House, Flybe head office at Exeter International Airport

Flybe is a public company, listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: FLYB).[30] Until November 2013, the main shareholder, with 48.1% of the shares, was Rosedale Aviation Holdings Limited,[31] the corporate representative of the trustee of the Jack Walker 1987 Settlement, which was established by the late Jack Walker, who was involved in Flybe’s early development.

In the UK, Flybe's largest base is at Birmingham Airport[32] and it has other large bases at Belfast, Manchester and Southampton airports, with a total of 14 crew and aircraft bases across the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. The company holds a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licence permitting it to carry passengers, cargo and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats.[33] The Flybe Group includes Flybe Aviation Services (engineering and maintenance), Flybe Training Academy (engineering and flight crew training), Flybe UK (airline operations) and Flybe Europe, the holding company for all European operations, which previously consisted of Flybe Nordic.

Business trends

The trends for Flybe Group over recent years are shown below (as at year ending 31 March):

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Group turnover (total, less JV) (£m) 367.5 535.9 572.4 570.5 595.5 615.3 614.3 620.5
Profit/Loss (earnings before tax & adjustments) (£m) −16.2 30.4 0.1 5.7 7.6 −7.1 −23.2 8.1
Profit/Loss after (*before) tax (£m) −19.9 34.9 4.1 6.7 3.8 −6.4 −41.8 8.0
Number of employees (average) 1,931 3,197 2,860 2,798 2,949 2,781 2,667 2,650
Number of passengers (scheduled) (m) 5.2 7.0 7.3 7.2 7.2 7.6 7.2 7.7
Passenger load factor (schedule) (%) n/a n/a 65.4 63.5 61.7 61.9 62.6 69.5
Number of aircraft (average) (*year end) 81* 80* 68 67 68 84 81 97
Notes/sources [34] [34] [31][35] [31][36] [31][37] [31] [31] [4]

Service concept

Flybe employs allocated seating on all flights and passengers have the option to choose a seat online in advance. Economy Plus ticket holders receive a complimentary drink and snack, access to Flybe Executive Lounges, free prebooked seating and priority check-in. For Economy passengers, the airline operates a buy on board programme, called "Deli in the Sky", offering food and drinks for purchase. The airline offers merchandise for sale on all flights, as well as duty-free cigarettes and spirits on flights to destinations that are outside of the European Union, including Jersey and Guernsey.[38] Onboard sales are an important part of the airline's ancillary revenue.

Joint ventures and franchises

File:Flybe - British European (Loganair) - Saab 340B.jpg
Loganair Saab 340B at Leeds Bradford International Airport

Loganair have operated a number of flights in Scotland and Ireland for Flybe under a franchise agreement since 2008.[39] The franchise has been criticised by residents in the Scottish islands for what they perceive to be excessively high fares,[40][41] and a Facebook campaign set up in June 2015 to highlight the issue attracted over 7,400 "likes" over the course of its first weekend. Flybe have however stated that it is their franchise partner, Loganair, who are responsible for the setting of these fares.[42]

On 11th January 2016, Flybe announced its third franchise deal with the Guernsey based airline, Blue Islands. This would see all Blue Islands flights operated under the Flybe name, and the Blue Islands aircraft livery replaced with the current Flybe livery from May 2016.[43]

Flybe purchased Finncomm Airlines with Finnair in July 2011,[44] and on 30 October 2011 rebranded the airline as Flybe Nordic. The joint venture operates its own routes along with franchise routes under a codeshare agreement for Finnair, operating under Flybe's BE-code. Flybe agreed to sell its 60% stake in Flybe Nordic in November 2014 for €1, in an attempt to reduce group costs.[45] On 1 May 2015, Flybe Nordic began operating solely for Finnair as it is no longer a part of Flybe. Flybe Nordic is now known as Nordic Regional Airlines - Norra.[46]

Sponsorship

On 24 April 2006 Flybe announced a 3-year deal with Southampton Football Club for sponsorship of the main club and shirt. On 11 December 2008, it was announced that Flybe had extended the deal by an extra year. However, this sponsorship deal has now ended with the club's decision to keep the club's shirts free of sponsorship for its 125th anniversary.[47] Flybe are also the main and shirt sponsor of Exeter City Football Club. Flybe also sponsors the weather bulletins on ITV Meridian, STV, ITV West Country, Channel Television and UTV, and the sport sections of the Manchester Evening News, the Express & Echo (Exeter), the South Wales Echo (Cardiff), the Isle of Man Courier and the Isle of Man Examiner.

Flybe formerly also sponsored Norwich City (2006–2008), Birmingham City (2003–2007) Southampton (2006–2010) and Inverness Caledonian Thistle (2007-2010).

Destinations

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Main article: Flybe destinations

Flybe operates short haul services to destinations throughout the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and continental Europe.

Partnerships and codeshare agreements

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Main article: Flybe franchise and codeshare destinations

Flybe has codeshare agreements with the following airlines, as of June 2015:[48]

Fleet

Current fleet

File:G-JEDP Dash-8 Flybe, 12Aug2014, landing at Schiphol (AMS - EHAM), The Netherlands.JPG
Flybe Dash 8 Q400 wearing the new purple livery
File:Embraer ERJ-190-200LR 195LR, Flybe - British European AN1712420.jpg
Flybe Embraer 195 wearing the former standard livery

As of December 2015, the Flybe fleet includes the following aircraft.[53] This does not include aircraft operated by franchise partners:

Flybe fleet
Aircraft In fleet Orders Passengers Notes
ATR 72-600 3 2 70 Operated for SAS.[54][55]
Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 50 15 78 Deliveries second-hand from Republic Airlines. 4 Never taken up and transferred to Japan Air Commuter. Currently the largest operator of Q400 in the world. [56]
Embraer E-175 11 4 88 Deliveries from 2018.[56][57][58]
Embraer E-195 9 — 118 7 in use, 2 stored.[59]
Total 73 21

Aircraft orders

  • On 6 June 2005, Flybe placed an order for 14 Embraer E-195 aircraft plus options on an additional 12 aircraft. Flybe was the worldwide launch customer for the Embraer E-195. Delivery of the aircraft started in September 2006. The new aircraft were to replace Flybe's BAe 146 aircraft, completing the fleet rationalisation started in 2003 which also includes an order for up to 61 Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft (41 firm orders and 20 options).
  • On 14 June 2005, Flybe converted four existing Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 options into firm orders bringing its fleet of Q400s to 45 aircraft when they were delivered.[60]
  • On 1 September 2006, the airline received its first 118-seat Embraer 195, the launch customer of the product. Fitted with single Head-up Guidance System (HGS) and configured to offer single-class service, the aircraft is intended to replace the airline’s BAe 146s.
  • In May 2007, the airline signed a deal for 15 Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft valued at $394 million, with options for a further 15. It is the world's largest Q400 operator and this order will increase its Q400 fleet to 60.[61]
  • On 20 July 2010, Flybe placed an order for 35 Embraer E-175 aircraft worth $1.3bn, with options for 65 more (value $2.3bn) and purchase rights for a further 40 (value $1.4bn). The 88-seat aircraft was originally planned to be delivered between July 2011 and March 2017,[57] with the first two aircraft actually arriving in November 2011.[62]
  • In September 2014 Flybe reached an agreement with Embraer to cancel 20 orders for E-175 jets, and defer delivery of the outstanding 4 until 2018. Simultaneously Republic Airways placed an order for 50 E-175 jets, and agreed to lease 24 of their Q400 aircraft to Flybe.[63]

Historic fleet

File:FlyBe BAe 146-300, G-JEBB@GVA,24.02.2007-451cv - Flickr - Aero Icarus.jpg
A former Flybe BAe 146

References

Citations
  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/modalapplication.aspx?catid=1&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=summary&owner=flybe&pageIndex=4
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ "World airline directory: Jersey European Airways". Flight International, 26 July 1980, p. 323.
  8. ↑ Wright 2001, p. 48.
  9. ↑ Wright 2001, p. 49.
  10. ↑ Wright 2001, p. 52.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ announced that they had completed the acquisition of BA Connect
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Budget airline Flybe asks actors to fill seats to avoid penalties. This is Money (31 March 2008). Retrieved on 2010-12-14.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Friends of the Earth: Archived press release: Government must urgently investigate aviation industry. Foe.co.uk (1 April 2008). Retrieved on 2010-12-14.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Press Association. Press Association (14 November 2010). Retrieved on 2010-12-14.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?news_id=2010881&c=setreg&region=2
  24. ↑ http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/New-purple-makeover-Flybe-planes-staff/story-20886279-detail/story.html
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ http://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/business/video-flybe-announces-eight-new-european-destinations-from-doncaster-airport-1-7563154
  28. ↑ http://www.flybe.com/flights-from/doncaster/
  29. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-34776454
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 31.4 31.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ http://www.airportsinternational.com/2014/01/major-flybe-expansion-at-birmingham/15190
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ "Shopping." Flybe. Retrieved on 18 November 2008.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ http://www.itv.com/news/channel/update/2016-01-11/blue-islands-flights-to-be-run-through-flybe/
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ http://www.eturbonews.com/58211/flybe-finland-changes-name-nordic-regional
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ Flybe Codeshare Partners
  49. ↑ new EI codeshare
  50. ↑ News Archives | July 2010. Flybe.com (13 July 2010). Retrieved on 2010-12-14.
  51. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  52. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  53. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  54. ↑ http://www.sasgroup.net/en/sas-signs-agreement-with-flybe/
  55. ↑ http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/38498-flybe-leasing-an-additional-atr72-for-sas-operations
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  58. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  59. ↑ http://jethros.org.uk/fleets/fleet_listings/flybe.htm
  60. ↑ Air International, July 2005
  61. ↑ Air Transport World 9 May 2007
  62. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  63. ↑ http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/43822460-3e64-11e4-b7fc-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3ERm3O5Sl
Bibliography
  • Wright, Alan J. "Independent Survivor". Air International, July 2001. Vol 61 No 1. pp. 48–52.

External links

Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons

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