After a deal was agreed that could pave the way for Flybe to restart operations, Routes looks at what became of the carrier’s UK network since its failure.
Routes analyzes some of the services returning as well as new routes being launched. This week we look at Air Senegal’s European expansion; British Airways starting Cornwall Airport Newquay flights; and Jazeera Airways adding a fourth destination in Turkey.
The flights from Aberdeen and Edinburgh to London Heathrow will be Flybe’s first ever scheduled flights into the UK’s largest airport and the world’s second largest international gateway, and will complement the carrier’s well-established London City flights from the two Scottish airports.
Following an overwhelming response from the business community, Flybe has taken the commercial decision to extend its limited series between Cardiff and London City Airport into a regular operation from this winter.
Flybe has shown its regional model and the use of efficient 78-seat Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 turboprops can provide sustainable air services in many UK domestic markets. It stepped in quickly earlier in the year to announce links between Cardiff and London during the six week closure of the Severn Tunnel.
Flybe is basing two 118-seat Embraer E195s at the airport this summer offering flights to Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Jersey, Newquay, Malaga, Alicante and Faro. It will add the Dusseldorf link, its second route into Germany, from the end of October 2016 and further route growth is planned.
The UK Government’s Regional Air Connectivity Fund was launched last year as a way of encouraging new routes to and from UK regional airports and improving connectivity for business and leisure travellers.
Whilst its aircraft may be repainted in Flybe livery, Blue Islands will still remain an independent locally Channel Islands-owned air operator continuing to fly all its own aircraft under the Blue Islands AOC (Air Operator’s Certificate).
Flybe revealed its intentions after last week’s government spending review did not include its proposal to operate from Northolt. It claims the plan, which is independent of any decision on the Airports Commission's recommendations on airport capacity in the South East, would bring additional runway capacity to serve UK passengers in the immediate term and without requiring any taxpayer funding.
This milestone announcement, the biggest of its kind since the Yorkshire airport opened its doors in 2005, will boost traffic with an additional 500,000 seats on offer from the facility. Doncaster Sheffield is already among the fastest growing airports in the UK outside London and will now benefit from Flybe delivering up to 44 new flight departures per week, a 70 per cent increase in departures.
The low-fare airline will introduce new year-round scheduled holiday flights from Norwich to Alicante and Malaga from March 2016, with the addition of Geneva expected later in 2016. The partnership will see one of Flybe’s stored Embraer E195 jets return to the skies, and planning is already underway to maximise its use by the airport.
UK low-fare regional carrier Flybe has recently re-opened its operational base at Aberdeen International Airport, host of this year’s Routes Europe. The airline is offering a strong summer 2015 schedule for the Granite City with up to 75 flights a week on five routes, one of which is also celebrating its 10th anniversary.
The new service will commence from September 7, 2015 with up to three flights per day, departing early morning, lunchtime and late afternoon and timed to coincide with many convenient onward long-haul connections available through Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport hub.
The latest development builds on Flybe's growing network of bases, including Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Manchester and Southampton, showing the airline's commitment to improving connectivity across and from the UK.
The route is expected to be popular with Belfast’s business passengers and is expected to generate 50,000 departing passengers per year. Belfast has a well-established Business and Financial Services sector, and business customers will be able to reach the city’s business district 10 minutes after leaving the airport due to the location of George Best Belfast City Airport.
UK low-fare regional carrier Flybe is to reopen its base at Aberdeen, begin base operations from Bournemouth and launch a new limited programme of domestic flights from London Stansted in summer 2015 as it continues to work to enhance connectivity within and from the UK.
Under the terms of this agreement Flybe and Finnair accordingly have signed an agreement under which it is intended that Flybe will exit Flybe Nordic by the end of 2014, subject to approval being received from competition authorities.
Leeds Bradford Airport yesterday welcomed Aer Lingus on its inaugural flight from Dublin and released information about a new shuttle service with Flybe during their winter schedule.
