Key Aero has received two significant nuggets of information from the 'new' Flybe today. The first concerns the location of its second base airport. The other is confirmation on when exactly tickets will go on sale. Read on for all the details!
As you'll probably be aware, the Flybe brand last took to the skies in revenue service in March 2020, prior to its dramatic financial collapse, but also just before the pandemic restrictions really took hold. In the two years since then, new owners have been found and are set to revive the carrier which was once Europe’s largest regional airline.
Flybe CEO, Dave Pflieger, has confirmed that tickets for the 'new' airline will go on sale from Tuesday 22 March: “Next week is going to be an exciting time for customers and communities that have been waiting to hear from us about low fares, new routes, and new destinations—all of which are being timed to coincide with the restart of the economy and a return to normality after two difficult years for all.
The CEO further revealed that Belfast/City will be the carrier's second base: “Our team has been working hard for over a year and a half to bring customers a new airline that people will love, and we are particularly excited to be flying to Belfast City Airport and serving Northern Ireland,”
In a switch from its processor which was headquartered in Exeter, the ‘new’ Flybe has opted for Birmingham as the home of its new HQ and first crew base. Flybe describes Belfast/City as “its second main base of operations”, adding that it has “plans to rapidly grow, create more jobs, and add more flights as the summer progresses”.
Formally established in April 2021, the ‘new’ Flybe is officially called Flybe Limited. In line with the former airline of the same name, it will field a fleet of Dash 8-400 turboprops, with the new management aiming to have up to 32 examples in service as the carrier grows.
The Flybe chief executive hinted that while the name and much of the branding will be familiar, passengers can expect an improved experience: “Once we start flying from Birmingham, Belfast, and many other cities in the UK and EU, we are confident that a new and improved Flybe will provide customers with great value, more choices, and the opportunity to quickly and more conveniently visit loved ones, go on holiday, and more easily visit customers or attend important meetings.”
