Flybe invests £4 million in business product

Thursday, 18 Jan, 2006 0

Low cost carrier Flybe has taken a swipe at rival British Airways as it unveiled a £4 million investment to bolster its business class product.

The move comes shortly after BA decided to scrap business class cabins on regional carrier CitiExpress – soon to be rebranded BA Connect.

Flybe has claimed BA’s decision and its own £4m cash injection will remove the “only remaining reason to travel legacy airline.” A statement said BA had “cut out and cut off its remaining business passengers.”

The investment in its Economy Plus service will see Flybe open executive lounges at all of its UK departure airports and European destinations. Wi-fi access will also be rolled out to the lounges.

The developments are in addition to existing Economy Plus benefits of dedicated check-in, advanced seat selection and complimentary on-board catering. A business to business website, www.flybe2b.com, has also been launched while air miles can also be accrued through Economy Plus.

Prices start from £99.99 one way.

Flybe director of marketing Simon Lilley said BA had shot itself in the foot by ripping out its business class cabins on CitiExpress.

“The only remaining reason to travel legacy airline has disappeared,” he said. “Today’s business travellers still have needs beyond a basic low cost offering but can no longer justify all of the costly bundled-in legacy carrier frills on short haul flights.”

Industry observers however said Flybe’s Economy Plus offering bears more than a passing resemblance to CitiExpress’s BA Connect Plus ticket.

For £110 one-way, BA is offering business travellers lounge access, seat selection, fast track through security and air miles for frequent flyers. The ticket is also fully flexible. But it will not offer in-flight catering or dedicated check-in desks.

BA said it would not enter into a row with Flybe but claimed its rival was “clearly worried”. A spokeswoman added that the development of lounges “appeared to be copying what BA already offer.”