14 routes axed as Flybe takes over BA Connect

In total, the deal brings the creation of 11 new routes out of Flybe’s regional bases and sees the airline taking over 20 routes currently operated by BA Connect. 

Flybe claims it will become Europe’s largest regional airline with the creation of 11 new routes from regional airports:

·       Manchester to Guernsey
·       Manchester to Bergerac
·       Manchester to Limoges
·       Manchester to La Rochelle
·       Southampton to Paris
·       Southampton to Isle of Man
·       Southampton to Frankfurt
·       Gatwick to Bergerac
·       Cardiff to Paris
·       Edinburgh to Rennes
·       Guernsey to Norwich

The new Flybe routes previously operated by BA Connect with fares cut are:

• Birmingham – Aberdeen
  Birmingham – Paris
  Birmingham – Dusseldorf
  Birmingham – Rennes
  Birmingham – Hamburg
  Birmingham – Milan
  Birmingham – Stuttgart
  Edinburgh – Paris
  London Gatwick – Inverness
  London Gatwick – Isle of Man
  Manchester – Brussels
  Manchester – Paris
  Manchester – Dusseldorf
  Manchester – Edinburgh
  Manchester – Rennes
  Manchester – Glasgow
  Manchester – Hannover
  Manchester – Isle of Man
  Manchester – Milan
  Manchester – Jersey (currently offered via Southampton)

The expanded airline will operate 152 routes in total, flying from 22 UK and 34 European airports with new routes to key European centres including Paris, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Milan.

Flybe plans to increase its current commitment to invest $1.2 billion in new aircraft to over $2 billion by increasing the fleet to over 80 Bombardier Q400 and Embraer 195 aircraft by 2010. 

BA is also providing Flybe with commercial support by entering into a one way codeshare agreement on all previous BA Connect routes, allowing for a smooth consumer transition to the Flybe brand.

BA will receive a 15% interest in Flybe as part of the deal.

Flybe chairman and chief executive Jim French said: “The acquisition of BA Connect gives us critical mass across our domestic and European city markets and, with valuable slots at congested European airports, brings our growth plans forward by two years. Flybe is now firmly established as one of the UK’s largest airlines.

“Flybe is above all a regional airline and the new routes this acquisition brings to our network reinforces our commitment to serving the whole of the UK.  We are playing our part in supporting the regional economies of the UK in line with the Government’s own ambitions.

“Flybe will employ over 3,000 staff in the new combined business. We are confident the new airline will offer exciting and continued career opportunities. During the last four months Flybe has worked closely with all unions and staff associations to ensure that all staff would be working on the same terms and conditions from the commencement of the new, combined business.”

by Phil Davies