Flybe collapses while the airline cancels all flights

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Authorities said today that regional airline Flybe has ceased trading and all scheduled flights have been cancelled.

The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority announced that the company had gone into administration and urged those with Flybe flights booked not to travel to the airports.

The press agency reports that three early Flybe flights from Belfast, two from Birmingham and two from Amsterdam were all ‘on time’ on Flybe’s live online flight status tracker at 5am.

But the Civil Aviation Authority urged ticket holders to check its website for the latest information instead. CAA Consumer Director Paul Smith said: “It is always sad to see an airline enter administration and know that Flybe’s decision to cease trading will be heartbreaking for all of its employees and customers.

“Passengers planning to travel with this airline are urged not to go to the airport as all Flybe flights have been cancelled. For the latest advice, Flybe customers should visit the Civil Aviation Authority’s website or Twitter feed for more information.”

The airline also confirmed the “sad” move, stating that officials had been brought in. “We are sad to announce that Flybe has been appointed to management,” Flybe tweeted.

“Interpath’s David Pike and Mike Pink have been appointed administrators. Flybe has now ceased trading. All Flybe flights to and from the UK have been canceled and will not be rescheduled.”

Second airline collapse since 2020

It comes after Flybe returned to the skies in April after an earlier crash.

It has returned with a plan to operate up to 530 flights per week across 23 routes, serving airports such as Belfast City, Birmingham, East Midlands, Glasgow, Heathrow and Leeds Bradford.

Flybe was pushed into administration in March 2020 with the loss of 2,400 jobs as the Covid-19 pandemic devastated large parts of the travel market.

Before it broke down, it was flying most of the UK’s domestic routes between airports outside London.

Its business and assets were acquired in April 2021 by Thyme Opco, which is associated with US hedge fund Cyrus Capital. Thyme Opco has been renamed Flybe Limited. It is based at Birmingham Airport.

The government said its “urgent priority” would be to support anyone trying to return home and those who have lost their jobs.

“Our immediate priority is to support people who travel home and employees who have lost their jobs,” said a company spokesperson.

“The Civil Aviation Authority advises travelers to help them make their journey as smooth and affordable as possible. The majority of destinations served by Flybe are within the UK with alternative transport arrangements available.”

“We realize this is an uncertain time for affected employees and their families.”

“It’s just outrageous”

A passenger whose Flybe flight was canceled with only three hours’ notice after the airline went into administration described the company as “outrageous”.

Freddie McBride, 61, from Balham in south London, was due to fly with his wife from Heathrow Airport to Belfast on Saturday morning but had to rebook with Aer Lingus.

He told the Palestinian News Agency: “I woke up at the crack of dawn packed and we couldn’t check in online last night, so I thought we’d do it this morning.

“I left my wife to do this while on the train. She got up at six and left home before seven. I get to Hatton Central and she checks my email and says they went to management. It’s outrageous.”

“I had to call my wife to tell her and I booked from home as I almost ran to Terminal 3 and Five to BA because I thought we could fly with them. So I spent the last hour running around the terminals trying to sort things out.

“When I get on the plane, I’m going to rest. They let us book in about a day or two ago. It’s not good, it’s not good.”

Salvage wages

Flybe customers may have been stranded by flight cancellations, but other airlines are trying to fill the void left by the crash.

Jonathan Hinkles, chief executive of rival regional airline Loganair, told The Telegraph: “Today’s crash was joe’s sad but inevitable from the start – it was a bad plan, and her delivery of that plan was laced with nearly every conceivable issue, many of them self-inflicted. My heart goes out to the crews and engineers who are rejoining with the hope that this will be very different.”

The airline tweeted that the Manchester to Newquay service, which was once served by Flybe, will be relaunched on 10 February. “We encourage customers to book early to avoid any disappointment,” she added.

Meanwhile, Ryanair has launched “rescue fares” for those affected by Flybe flight cancellations. It said routes from Belfast to the East Midlands, Manchester and London Stansted are available online, starting at £29.99 for travel from Sunday.

The last time Flybe collapsed – in March 2020 – Ryanair also launched these ‘rescue fares’, with fares starting at £19.99.

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