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British Airline Flybe Has Gone Into Administration

British Airline Flybe Has Gone Into Administration

Staff were reportedly in tears as the news was announced

Simon Fearn

Simon Fearn

British airline Flybe went into administration at around 3am this morning. All flights have been grounded and the business ceased trading with immediate effect.

According to Sky News, staff were in tears on the airline's final flights - having learned they would lose their jobs in a matter of hours.

A statement from the airline read: "Flybe entered Administration on 5 March 2020 and Alan Hudson, Joanne Robinson, Lucy Winterborne and Simon Edel of EY [Ernst & Young] have been appointed as Joint Administrators.

"All flights have been grounded and the UK business has ceased trading with immediate effect."

PA

The airline's advice to customers who have booked flights was as follows: "If you are due to fly with Flybe, please DO NOT TRAVEL TO THE AIRPORT unless you have arranged an alternative flight with another airline. Please note that Flybe is unfortunately not able to arrange alternative flights for passengers.

"If you have a booking sold by another airline that includes travel on a Flybe flight, please contact the relevant airline or travel agent to confirm if there is any impact to your travel plans."

Flybe's website has been taken down and now only displays the above statement.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority said: "All Flybe flights are cancelled. Please do not go to the airport as your Flybe flight will not be operating. For flights operated by franchise partners, passengers should make contact with their airline."

Flybe chief executive Mark Anderson said: "The UK has lost one of its greatest regional assets.

"Flybe has been a key part of the UK aviation industry for four decades, connecting regional communities, people and businesses across the entire nation.

"I thank all our partners and the communities we have been privileged to serve. Above all I would like to thank the Flybe team for their incredible commitment and dedication."

PA

According to Sky News, an email circulated to Flybe employees cited the Covid-19 outbreak as a reason for the airline's financial difficulties.

Air transport expert John Strickland told the BBC it's not a surprise for the airline to go bust, but it will have big knock-on effects for people in regional areas.

He said: "The airline has struggled for a number of years, it's really too big for what it's trying to do.

"It's small in the scale of the UK market as a whole, but if you're flying out of Exeter, Newquay or specifically Southampton it really is one of the only airline choices, indeed in Southampton it accounts for about 95 percent of the activity at that airport, so a number of regional groups will risk not being served."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: uk news, travel