Flybe

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Flybe
Flybe Logo.svg
IATA
BE		 ICAO
BEE		 Callsign
JERSEY
Founded 1979 (as Jersey European Airways)
Operating bases
Focus cities Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport
Frequent-flyer program Rewards4all
Airport lounge Flybe Executive Lounge
Subsidiaries Flybe Nordic
Loganair
Fleet size 77
Destinations 102
Company slogan Making Flying Better
Parent company Rosedale (J.W.) Investments Limited
Headquarters Jack Walker House
Exeter International Airport
Devon, United Kingdom
Key people
Revenue Increase £615.3 million (12 months to 31 March 2012)[1]
Operating income Decrease -£7.1 million (12 months to 31 March 2012)[1]
Net income Decrease -£6.4 million (12 months to 31 March 2012)[1]
Website www.flybe.com
Jack Walker House, Flybe head office at Exeter International Airport

Flybe Group PLC (styled as flybe, pronounced /ˈflaɪˌbiː/) is a low-cost regional airline group based in Exeter, Devon, England.[2] It operates over 180 routes to 65 European airports and is Europe's largest regional airline, carrying over 7 million passengers during 2012.[3][4] The airline is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: FLYB), and employs around 2,800 people.[1][5]

Launched in 1979 under the name Jersey European Airways, the airline was later renamed British European, and then Flybe. It took over BA Connect in 2007 to create Flybe Group.

In the UK, Flybe's largest base is Southampton Airport and it has other large bases at Belfast City Airport, Birmingham Airport, and Manchester Airport, with a total of 14 crew and aircraft bases across the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.

The company holds a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licence permitting it to carry passengers, cargo and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats.[6]

Contents

History [edit]

A Jersey European Vickers Viscount seen at Düsseldorf International Airport in 1980.
Former Jersey European logo, used from 1991–2000

Flybe started operations on 1 November 1979 as Jersey European Airways as a result of a merger of Jersey-based Intra Airways and Bournemouth-based Express Air Services,[7][8] and was founded by John Habin, a resident of Jersey and the majority investor. After selling Aviation Beauport and other business interests, Habin established some key routes from Jersey to the UK, before selling the airline in November 1983 to Jack Walker's Walker Steel Group, which already owned Blackpool-based charter airline Spacegrand Aviation. The two airlines were then run separately, with partially shared management, until 1985 when they amalgamated under the Jersey European name, with the airline's headquarters moving to Exeter.[9]

The airline became British European in June 2000,[10] shortening this title to Flybe on 18 July 2002 and repositioning itself as a full-service, low-fare airline.

On 3 November 2006 it was announced that Flybe would buy BA Connect, except for that airline's services out of London City Airport. The takeover was complete in March 2007. The expanded airline's owners were Rosedale Aviation Holdings (69%), Flybe staff (16%) and – as a result of the of the BA Connect takeover – International Airlines Group (15%).[11] The acquisition increased Flybe's route network in both the UK and continental Europe, making Flybe Europe's largest regional airline.[12]

On 14 January 2008 it was announced that Flybe had signed a franchise agreement with Scottish airline Loganair, to commence on 26 October 2008 following the termination of Loganair's franchise agreement with British Airways on 25 October 2008. The agreement would see Loganair aircraft flying in Flybe colours on 55 routes from Scotland.[13]

Chief Executive Officer Jim French was recognised in the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours List with a CBE for his services to the airline industry.[14]

On 10 December 2010, Flybe floated on the London Stock Exchange, with trading in shares commencing on the same day. Full public release of shares followed on 15 December 2010. The share price was set at 295p, valuing the company at approximately £215 million, and raising £66 million for the company, half of which was to pay for fleet expansion.[15][16]

Corporate affairs [edit]

Passenger numbers [edit]

Flybe carried over 7 million passengers during 2012, a slight reduction compared with 2011.[4]

Year Total passengers Total flights Load factor Passenger change YoY
2005 4,683,482 80,919 67.7%
2006 4,536,841 86,044 63.3% Decrease003.1%
2007 6,050,211 133,979 61.3% Increase033.4%
2008 6,854,491 139,891 63.6% Increase013.3%
2009 6,708,253 137,150 60.6% Decrease002.1%
2010 6,737,698 144,429 61.0% Increase000.4%
2011 7,097,188 139,874 62.2% Increase005.1%
2012 7,069,043 135,108 63.5% Decrease000.4%
Source: UK Civil Aviation Authority[4]

Financial performance [edit]

Financial
year ended		 Turnover
(£m)		 Profit / (Loss)
before tax (£m)		 Net Profit /
(Loss) (£m)
2007 367.5 (16.2) (19.9)
2008 535.9 30.4 34.9
2009 572.4 0.1 4.1
2010 570.5 5.7 6.7
2011 595.5 7.6 3.8
2012 615.3 (7.1) (6.4)
Note: Flybe financial year runs to 31 March
Source: Flybe Reports and Accounts[1]

Subsidiaries and franchises [edit]

The Flybe group now includes Flybe Aviation Services (engineering and maintenance), Flybe Training Academy (engineering and flight crew training), Flybe UK (airline operations) and Flybe Europe, the holding company for all European operations, which currently consists of Flybe Nordic.

A joint-venture with Finnair called Flybe Nordic started operations on 30 October 2011, when Finncomm Airlines was renamed as Flybe Nordic as a result of ownership change. Route structure of the airline consists of franchise routes operated for Finnair and Flybe Nordic's own routes under BE- code. Also flights with BE- designator are code-shared with Finnair. Developments in the company have already started as published by Airliner World[17]

Flybe operates many flights in Scotland and some of its flights in Ireland through a franchise agreement with Loganair.

Sponsorship [edit]

Flybe advertise flights from Leeds Bradford Airport on the side of a Leeds taxi, seen outside the University of Leeds in 2010.

Norwich Airport rebate incident [edit]

In 2008, in order to avoid losing a £280,000 rebate from Norwich Airport, Flybe hired 172 actors as "fake passengers" on 11 flights to Dublin.[19][20][21] As a result the environmental group Friends of the Earth called on the government to launch an investigation into the aviation industry.[22]

Destinations [edit]

Main article: Flybe destinations

Flybe operates short haul services to destinations throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and continental Europe.

Partnerships and codeshare agreements [edit]

Main article: Flybe franchise and codeshare destinations

Flybe has codeshare agreements with the following airlines, as of May 2012:[23]

Fleet [edit]

Current fleet [edit]

Dash 8 Q400 at takeoff
Flybe Dash 8 Q400 in planform view
Alternative low cost, but not at any cost green livery

As of April 2013, the Flybe fleet includes the following aircraft,[27] with an average age of 3 years (DEC 2012) The fleet is expanding with the E175 aircraft and Flybe are selling some of the Dash 8 Q400 aircraft to be replaced by the E175 type.[28]

Flybe Fleet
Aircraft In service On order Passengers
Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 41 – 78
Embraer E-175 9 26[29] 88
Embraer E-195 14 – 118
Total 64 26

Aircraft orders [edit]

  • On 6 June 2005, Flybe placed an order for 14 Embraer E-195 aircraft plus options on an additional 12 aircraft. Flybe is the worldwide launch customer for the Embraer E-195. Delivery of the aircraft started in September 2006. The new aircraft were to replace Flybe's BAe 146 aircraft, completing the fleet rationalisation started in 2003 which also includes an order for up to 61 Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft (41 firm orders and 20 options).
  • On 14 June 2005, Flybe converted four existing Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 options into firm orders bringing its fleet of Q400s to 45 aircraft when they are delivered.[30]
  • On 1 September 2006, the airline received its first 118-seat Embraer 195, the launch customer of the product. Fitted with single Head-up Guidance System (HGS) and configured to offer single-class service, the aircraft is intended to replace the airline’s BAe 146s.
  • In May 2007, the airline signed a deal for 15 Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft valued at $394 million, with options for a further 15. It is the world's largest Q400 operator and this order will increase its Q400 fleet to 60.[31]
  • On 20 July 2010, Flybe placed an order for 35 Embraer E-175 aircraft worth $1.3bn, with options for 65 more (value $2.3bn) and purchase rights for a further 40 (value $1.4bn). The 88-seat aircraft was originally planned to be delivered between July 2011 and March 2017,[29] with the first two aircraft actually arriving in November 2011.[32]

Previously operated [edit]

Flybe Saab 340B at Leeds Bradford International Airport.

Cabin and onboard service [edit]

Flybe employs allocated seating on all flights and passengers have the option to choose a seat online in advance. Economy Plus ticket holders receive a complimentary drink and snack, access to Flybe Executive Lounges, free prebooked seating and priority check-in. For Economy passengers, the airline operates a buy on board programme, called "Deli in the Sky", offering food and drinks for purchase.

The airline offers gifts and fragrances for sale on all flights, as well as duty free cigarettes and spirits on flights to destinations that are outside of the European Union, including Jersey and Guernsey.[33] Onboard sales are an important part of the airline's ancillary revenue.

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Flybe Reports and Accounts
  2. ^ "Contact Us." Flybe. Retrieved on 29 August 2009. "Customer Call Centre Flybe Customer Call Centre Jack Walker House Exeter International Airport Devon EX5 2HL United Kingdom"
  3. ^ Flybe Company Information
  4. ^ a b c "UK Airline Statistics | Data | Economic Regulation". UK CAA. 19 April 2010. Retrieved 2013-05-05. 
  5. ^ The London Stock Exchange welcomes Flybe to the Main Market
  6. ^ Operating Licence
  7. ^ "World airline directory: Jersey European Airways". Flight International, 26 July 1980, p. 323.
  8. ^ Wright 2001, p. 48.
  9. ^ Wright 2001, p. 49.
  10. ^ Wright 2001, p. 52.
  11. ^ "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 3 April 2007. p. 83. 
  12. ^ announced that they had completed the acquisition of BA Connect
  13. ^ "Flybe signs historic franchise deal with Loganair". Flybe Press Office. Archived from the original on 17 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-14. 
  14. ^ HM The Queen's 2009 Birthday Honours List
  15. ^ Regional airline Flybe raised £66m from stock market flotation
  16. ^ Press Association. Press Association (14 November 2010). Retrieved on 2010-12-14.
  17. ^ "Flybe Nordic. A challenge to the Skyways-Cimber venture?". AirlineHunter. Retrieved 2011-07-04. 
  18. ^ "The Shirt Is Yours". saintsfc.co.uk. 
  19. ^ "Airline asks actors to fill bogus flights in bid to win £280,000 bonus". Daily Mail (London). 30 March 2008. 
  20. ^ Budget airline Flybe asks actors to fill seats to avoid penalties. This is Money (31 March 2008). Retrieved on 2010-12-14.
  21. ^ "Airline sought actors for flights". BBC News. 30 March 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2010. 
  22. ^ Friends of the Earth: Archived press release: Government must urgently investigate aviation industry. Foe.co.uk (1 April 2008). Retrieved on 2010-12-14.
  23. ^ Flybe Codeshare Partners
  24. ^ News Archives | July 2010. Flybe.com (13 July 2010). Retrieved on 2010-12-14.
  25. ^ "Flybe signs new codeshare with Etihad Airways". Flybe Press Office. Retrieved 2009-11-05. 
  26. ^ "Flybe signs codeshare with Etihad". Business Traveller News. Retrieved 2009-11-07. 
  27. ^ UK CAA Aircraft Register – Flybe Fleet
  28. ^ http://www.flybe.com/corporate/careers/about_our_fleet.htm
  29. ^ a b "Flybe announces a deal for up to 140 Embraer E Series Aircraft". Flybe Press Office. Retrieved 2010-07-20. 
  30. ^ Air International, July 2005
  31. ^ Air Transport World 9 May 2007
  32. ^ Flybe celebrates arrivial of new jets with a soaking!
  33. ^ "Shopping." Flybe. Retrieved on 18 November 2008.
  • Wright, Alan J. "Independent Survivor". Air International, July 2001. Vol 61 No 1. pp. 48–52.

External links [edit]

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