The Basics
Early Years
In 1969, Intra Airways was formed to operate charters from the Channel Islands with a single DC-3. The airline operated both cargo and passenger flights to continental Europe and the UK. The airline, whilst based in the Jersey, set up an engineering base in Exeter.
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A decade after the airline's formation, the carrier merged with Express Air Services to form Jersey European Airways. At the time the airline was operating DC-3s and Vickers Viscounts. Express Air Services was demerged to form Channel Express which, in 2002, became Jet2.
Jersey European Airways
In 1983, Jersey European Airways was sold to Walker Steel Group and operated alongside the group's Spacegrand Aviation. These airlines were later merged. Exeter had been the meeting point of the two airlines' route networks and so became the headquarters of the combined airline in 1985.
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Jersey European then embarked on significant expansion, carrying 460,000 passengers in 1990, up from 160,000 in 1985. London was added to the route network in 1991 with a route between Guernsey and Gatwick. Two years later the airline added jet aircraft, in the form of BAe 146s, as well as business class for the first time. By 1997, the airline had acquired a franchise for Air France, flying between Heathrow and Toulouse and Nice.
British European
To more accurately reflect the airline's route network the was renamed British European in 2000. At this point the airline operated a mix of BAe 146s, Bombardier Dash 8s and CRJ100s having disposed of the smaller Short 360s, Twin Otters and Fokker F-27s that were operated by JEA.
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At this point the airline was still operating as a full service carrier, as well as an Air France franchisee with both the CRJ100s and BAe 146s and was studying introducing larger aircraft with capacity of 100 plus passengers.
Flybe brand is born
In 2002, the airline was rebranded as Flybe. At this point, the airline started its journey to become Europe's largest regional airline. The carrier pivoted to become a full service but low cost carrier. This maintained the onboard product but introduced discounted one way fares, abolished overbooking and introduced a customer charter. Over time, the carrier became more of a traditional low cost carrier, reducing service onboard.
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In 2005, Flybe became the launch customer for the Embraer 195, operating the first example a year later. Initially assigned to the airline's busiest trunk routes, the carrier reassigned them to new routes later.
BA Connect Acquisition
In 2006, the carrier announced an agreement to acquire BA Connect, formerly BA CitiExpress, from British Airways to aid expansion. Due to the loss making nature of the carrier, BA would pay Flybe to take the carrier and take up a shareholding in the expanded carrier. BA retained the Avro RJ fleet and the London City operations, which became BA CityFlyer.
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BA Connect had been formed from several carriers over the past couple of decades to form an extensive regional operation. Brymon Airways, British Regional Airlines and Manx Airways were all folded into the carrier. BA Connect introduced buy on board products though maintained other full service characteristics. The carrier was the first to utilised print at home boarding passes introducing self service check in to the industry.
The 2010s
During its final decade, Flybe adapted the network and fleet multiple times in an attempt to find profitability. London Gatwick slots were sold but services to London City and Heathrow were started later. In 2013, when Saad Hammad took over as CEO, roughly 40% of the operated routes were loss making.
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After floating during an IPO in 2010, the company was valued at £215 million. Flybe sold 24.4 million shares at 295p a share, half of which went to fund fleet expansion. By 2014, BA's shareholding had been diluted from 15% to 5% via share issues and the flag carrier exited the airline, selling its shares.
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In 2014, the airline livery was changed, painting the aircraft purple with the new taglines "Fastest Way from A to FlyBe" and " Faster than Road or Rail" painted on the engines.
Flybe Nordic
In 2011, Flybe and Finnair set up a joint venture, purchasing Finncomm Airlines and rebranding it as Flybe Nordic. The airline operated ATRs around Scandinavia on behalf of Finnair.
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By 2014, Flybe was attempting to reduce costs and sold its 60% stake in Flybe to Finnair. This was completed the following year for a symbolic purchase price of one Euro. The airline was renamed Nordic Regional Airlines, abbreviated to Norra, at this point.
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In 2018, Finnair sold on the 60% holding to Danish Air Transport. The airline still operates regionally on behalf of Finnair with ATRs and E-Jets.
Franchises & Wet Leasing
From 2008, Flybe expanded their operations through franchising operations to other carriers. Loganair was the first carrier to operate in Flybe colours after their BA franchise came to an end. In 2017, the partnership came to an acrimonious end over onboard service level disagreements. Loganair restarted operations as an independent carrier, whilst Flybe enlisted Eastern Airways to operate franchise operations in direct competition with Loganair. Many of these routes were self destructive, operating at significant loss before Flybe ceded the routes back to Loganair. ATR operators Stobart Air and Blue Islands also operated franchises under the Flybe banner during this period.
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Flybe also offered wet lease services during this period with aircraft leased out to airlines such as Olympic Air and Brussels Airlines along with their crews.
Connect Airways Takeover
Flybe's value had collapsed over the decade. Franchisee Stobart Air had bid for the airline in early 2018 but was rebuffed. By late 2018, the share price had fallen by such an extent that the airline put itself up for sale.
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A consortium formed of Virgin Atlantic, Stobart Air and Cyrus Capital Partners, Connect Airways successfully negotiated a purchase agreement valuing the airline at only £2.8 million.
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Assets were sold to the consortium leaving the original Flybe holding company as a shell, which was then sold in March 2019, despite short lived competing bids from Stobart's CEO and from Mesa Airlines.
Collapse
By January 2020, Flybe was once again struggling financially having exhausted the bridging loan from the consortium. Negotiations with the UK government deferred Flybe's tax obligations and there was hope of a rescue loan in February.
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By early March, however, the Covid-19 pandemic was starting to impact the state of the industry. The proposed rescue loan was rejected and on the 5th of March, all operations, including the merged Stobart Air's, ceased and administrators were appointed to liquidate the company. After just over 50 years, the final Flybe flights landed and the aircraft were impounded.
Flybe Reborn
After the original Flybe's collapse, the brand was sold by the administrators to Thyme Opco in 2020, with the aim to relaunch the airline. The airline eventually launched operations between Birmingham and Belfast in April 2023. The reincarnated airline continued the tradition of the original, operating Dash 8 aircraft regionally around the UK and Europe.
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Less than a year later, administrators were again appointed in January 2023. The airline had burned through its start up capital and was losing between 4 and 5 million pounds per month. The airline had been plagued by operational difficulties and late aircraft deliveries before its collapse.