Two years after it went into administration the disbanded regional carrier, Flybe, has unveiled its return to the skies with flights taking off in April. Flights serving 23 routes are already on sale to and from airports including Birmingham, Belfast City, East Midlands, Glasgow, Heathrow, Southampton, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Amsterdam, Leeds Bradford, Avignon Provence, Toulon Hyeres and Brest Bretagne. Flights are set to start up again on 13 April.
The airline went into administration in March 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic hit the aviation industry hard and Flybe suffered the loss of more than 2,000 jobs. In 2021 Thyme Opco, which is linked to US hedge fund Cyrus Capital purchased Flybe’s business and assets.
Dave Pflieger, Flybe’s Chief Executive revealed: “Our new network will ensure better regional connectivity inside the UK and between various UK and EU regions.”
Many of the routes being served by Flybe will come up against stiff competition from existing airlines, especially those from primary hubs such as London Heathrow and Amsterdam.
However Pflieger emphasised that Flybe’s “new flights will benefit everyone who wants low fares and more flights to go on holiday and visit loved ones.”
All routes will be operated using Dash 8-400 prop aircraft and although the airline was previously based at Exeter Airport in the UK, its headquarters will now be in Birmingham with a second base at Belfast City.
