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Flybe (UK)
| Flybe | ||
|---|---|---|
| IATA BE |
ICAO BEE |
Callsign JERSEY |
| Founded | 1979 (as Jersey European Airways) | |
| Hubs | Southampton Airport Birmingham Airport Manchester Airport Belfast City Airport |
|
| Focus cities | Edinburgh Airport Glasgow Airport London Gatwick Airport Exeter Airport Jersey Airport Isle of Man Airport Guernsey Airport Newcastle Airport Cardiff Airport Norwich Airport |
|
| Frequent flyer program | Rewards4all | |
| Fleet size | 82 | |
| Destinations | 46 | |
| Parent company | Jersey European Airways Ltd | |
| Headquarters | Exeter, United Kingdom | |
| Key people | Jim French (CEO) Jack Walker (Founder) Andrew Knuckey (CFO) Mike Rutter (CCO) Andrew Strong (COO) |
|
| Website: http://www.flybe.com/ | ||
Flybe is a British airline based at Exeter International Airport, England. It is the largest independent regional airline in Europe operating over 150 routes to 55 airports.[1] The airline's largest base is now Southampton Airport and it has further bases across the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and 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.[2]
Contents |
History
Flybe started operations on 1 November 1979 as Jersey European Airways (JEA), after taking over the operations of Intra Airways. Jersey European Airways was the brainchild of John Habin, a resident of Jersey and the majority investor in JEA. Having sold Aviation Beauport and other business interests, Habin established a few key routes from Jersey to the UK. Jersey European Airways was taken over in 1983 by Jack Walker's Walker Steel Group who were already the parent company of Blackpool based charter airline Spacegrand Aviation. The two airlines were run separately, with partially shared management, until their amalgamation within the Walker Aviation Group in 1985, under the Jersey European name. The airline rebranded as British European in June 2000 and later shortened this title to Flybe on 18 July 2002 and aimed to reposition itself as a full service, low-fare airline. On 3 November 2006 it was announced that agreement in principle had been reached for Flybe to acquire BA Connect, with the exception of London City Airport services. The acquisition was completed in March 2007. The airline is owned by Rosedale Aviation Holdings (69%), Flybe staff (16%) and British Airways (15%) as a consequence of the acquisition of BA Connect. It has 3,000 employees at January 2008.[3]
Acquisition of BA Connect
On 5 March 2007 Flybe completed the acquisition of the former regional airline business of British Airways. The purchase was first announced on 3 November 2006. British Airways will ensure that Flybe has sufficient cash funding (£96m) in order to achieve its growth targets and the transition out of the BA Connect fleet. In return British Airways has acquired a 15% stake in the airline. The acquisition (which did not include BA Connect's London City Airport routes, which have been taken over by BA CityFlyer) has significantly increased Flybe's route network in both the UK and continental Europe making Flybe Europe's largest regional airline.[4]
Loganair franchise agreement
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 will see Loganair aircraft flying in Flybe colours on 55 routes from Scotland.[5]
Destinations
Flybe operates short haul services to destinations throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and continental Europe.
Flybe franchise and codeshare destinations
Fleet
As of June 2008, the Flybe fleet includes the following aircraft:[6]
| Aircraft | In Service | Stored | On Order | Notes |
| ATR 72 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Leased from Aer Arann for summer 2008 |
| BAe 146-200 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| BAe 146-300 | 8 | 0 | 0 | |
| Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 | 38 | 0 | 19 | |
| Embraer 145 | 22 | 0 | 0 | |
| Embraer E-195 AR | 12 | 0 | 2 | |
| Total | 82 | 3 | 21 |
As of June 2008 the average age of the Flybe fleet was 5.4 years.[7]
Aircraft orders
- On 6 June 2005, Flybe placed an order for 14 Embraer E-195 aircraft plus options on an additional 12 aircraft. Flybe is the worldwide launch customer for the Embraer E-195. Delivery of the aircraft started in September 2006 and will be completed in October 2008. The new aircraft will 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 are delivered.[8]
- 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 be used extensively within Flybes existing and expanding network, replacing the airlines 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[9].
Aircraft sales
In an announcement of Flybe's year end results, the airline stated that it has successfully sold all Embraer 145 aircraft inherited from BA Connect, and has made significant progress to sell the small number of BAe 146s remaining in the Flybe fleet. This is with the aim to operate a two aircraft type fleet (comprising the Dash 8 Q400 and Embraer 195) by 2009. [10]
Codeshares
- British Airways - Flybe codeshares on several routes, primarily those to and from Manchester, Birmingham, London Gatwick and Edinburgh, following Flybe's takeover of BA Connect in March 2007.
- Brussels Airlines - Flybe codeshares with Brussels airlines on Flybe routes from Manchester and Southampton, and on Brussels Airlines routes from Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Newcastle [11].
Flybe also has various interline partnerships with a range of other airlines including American Airlines, , BMI British Midland, Emirates Airline, Korean Air, Northwest, Singapore Airlines, TAP Portugal, US Airways and Virgin Atlantic[12].
Sponsorship
- On 24 April 2006 Flybe announced a 3-year deal with Southampton Football Club for sponsorship of the main club and shirt. Flybe are also the main and shirt sponsor of Exeter City Football Club, Norwich City Football Club, and Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Birmingham City Football Club announced on 13 April 2007 that Flybe had ended their sponsorship of the club.
- Flybe also sponsor the weather bulletins on STV, ITV West and ITV Westcountry as well as the sport bulletins on UTV, along with the sport sections of the Manchester Evening News, The Express and Echo (Exeter) and Isle of Man Newspaper.
References
- ^ Flybe Company Information
- ^ Operating Licence
- ^ "Directory: World Airlines", Flight International, 2007-04-03, p. 83.
- ^ announced that they have completed the acquisition of BA Connect
- ^ Flybe signs historic franchise deal with Loganair. Flybe Press Office. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
- ^ UK CAA Aircraft Register
- ^ Flybe Fleet Age
- ^ Air International, July 2005
- ^ Air Transport World 9 May 2007
- ^ Year end results announcement. Flybe press office. Retrieved on 2007-12-01.
- ^ [1] 1 August 2007
- ^ [2]
External links
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