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Flybe scraps Bristol services
Flybe is to cancel all but one service from Bristol airport later this month.
Except for its Jersey flights, all other routes will be scrapped from March 25.
Flybe said it had made the decision in light of its purchase of British Airways’ regional flights subsidiary BA Connect.
“For the last three months, Flybe has carefully examined the economic viability of all routes, airports and services across the UK and Europe as part of its preparation for the acquisition of BA Connect,” said Mike Rutter, chief commercial officer.
“After much consideration, Flybe has come to the difficult decision that, with the exception of the long-established Jersey route, the airline will cease to operate from Bristol Airport. This is Flybe’s only proposed base closure.”
The airline has started its statutory 90 day consultation process with 193 affected staff and said it hoped to keep job losses to a minimum.
Routes to Paris, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Glasgow and Edinburgh will be abandoned.
Passengers are being offered the chance to book alternative flights from other airports.
“We apologise for the inconvenience but hope that customers will understand that without swift action there would be no chance of stemming BA Connects chronic losses,” said Rutter.
“Flybe commended the management team at Bristol for a long and productive relationship, and confirmed that Flybe’s decision is no reflection on the work of the airport team.”
Bristol International Airport aviation development director Tony Hallwood said it was now in detailed negotiations with major scheduled airlines keen to expand their existing route network from Bristol.
“We are confident that we will be in a position to announce positive news on a number of the routes affected by Flybe’s decision in the near future,” he said.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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