Flybe

[Jerry]

That's good then, Ive not read too much into this Stobart deal but when airlines start talking about mergers and take overs, it makes me nervous.

From what i've read Stobart are ambitious and want to become a big aviation player and i'm wondering if they thought Flybe would be a cheap buy!

 

[58terminus]

Flybe share price falls after Stobart Group abandons offer for airline

Problem with this sort of headline is there is no mention of how much the share price was before Stobart declared their interest. A headline of "FlyBe share price returns to normal after Stobart withdraw interest" is not quite as eye catching.
Unfortunately that story was at one point in the top 10 read news stories on the BBC website.It's typical of the lazy
ill informed journalism prevalent today without any thought of the consequences.
On the plus side a few city investors might have take a hit

 

[Ray Finkle]

An odd article from the Express & Star.

I can't see Norwich, Malaga and Alicante on their website?

Budget airline Flybe has unveiled its winter schedule from Birmingham Airport for later this year with new weekend flights to Norwich on Sundays and the return of routes to capture some Spanish sun.

Flybe has the biggest operation at Birmigham of any airline and will be operating 22 winter routes with up to 315 flights a week to destinations including Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Milan and Paris, as well as ski flights to Chambery and Geneva.

It is also reinstating two popular sun routes to Alicante and Malaga.

https://www.expressandstar.com/news...schedule-from-birmingham/#wROTgv4BhJvULw91.99

 

[Jerry]

Budget airline Flybe has unveiled its winter schedule from Birmingham Airport for later this year with new weekend flights to Norwich on Sundays and the return of routes to capture some Spanish sun.

That's Exeter i believe. They have flights to Norwich because the based E195 operates Alicante and Malaga on some days in a W pattern.

 

[Ray Finkle]

That's Exeter i believe. They have flights to Norwich because the based E195 operates Alicante and Malaga on some days in a W pattern.

Thanks for that

Express & Star at it's finest again

 

[smithy108]

Some indication on where Flybe are heading on aircraft and operation of routes over the next few years. Likely to be more consolidation then new routes but they have lurched in several different directions over the past few years so who knows ?

Flybe to cut fleet to 70 aircraft by 2020
After a comprehensive review of regional aircraft options, Flybe Group has concluded that the Bombardier Q400 is the best core aircraft for its current and future needs. It will therefore remain as the backbone of the Flybe fleet for the foreseeable future.

The Q400 is faster than the alternative turboprops, with a performance close to jet aircraft over the relatively short sectors that Flybe operates. In addition, with excellent operating economics including turboprop fuel efficiency, it is cheaper to operate than similar-sized jet aircraft and has a much smaller noise footprint.

Flybe will however continue to operate a number of Embraer E175 jets for longer or busier routes.

Flybe’s stated strategy is to reduce its overall fleet and to concentrate on profitable routes only.

In the past twelve months, Flybe handed back six older end-of-lease Q400s. With a further planned handback of all nine Embraer 195 jets, the overall fleet is well on the way to reducing in size from 85 at its peak in May 2017, to a target of around 70 aircraft by early 2020.

Flybe’s Q400 fleet remains a relatively young one, with an average age of just over ten years. The airline has accordingly concluded that it will retain its remaining Q400 aircraft and, where economic, extend their service lives.

This will save considerable capital expenditure over the next few years, by avoiding the requirement to acquire new aircraft. Flybe still has a heritage order for four Embraer E175s due in 2019.These will be delivered with new ‘winglet technology’ to help reduce fuel consumption.

Apart from these, Flybe is not planning any additional new aircraft orders for the foreseeable future.

Flybe chief executive, Christine Ourmières-Widener, said: “Flybe’s strategy is to reduce the fleet size to an optimum level and make the business demand-driven rather than capacity-led.

“Our fleet configuration is an important part of that strategy.We examined exhaustively all the options and concluded the Bombardier Q400 is the best core aircraft for us. Its superior economy, speed and quietness is ideal for a regional airline such as ourselves. Together with a number of Embraer E175s, our future fleet will be the optimum required for our specific regional route network.”

 

[GliderPilot]

So are flybe there are saying “weve found our niche in the market, rather than gamble the whole airline with rigerous expansion were going to keep what we have as we know its profitiable”?

Sensible

 

[rollo]

I like Flybe but they do baffle me when they come out with the blee×××× obvious stating such stuff as concentrating on profitable routes only.

 

[hoody]

Been to Aberdeen this week with FlyBe. Previously enjoyed the 9am flight, now it's moved to 6.30am *yawn*

 

[Matt995]

charters flights to Kefallonia and Verona start today, both on the E175, first time Kefallonia is scheduled on the E175!

 

[Ray Finkle]

charters flights to Kefallonia and Verona start today, both on the E175, first time Kefallonia is scheduled on the E175!

It's Preveza today with G-FBJA doing the honours.

 

[David_itl]

I like Flybe but they do baffle me when they come out with the blee×××× obvious stating such stuff as concentrating on profitable routes only.

You will find airlines that operate, if looked at on a stand-alone basis, loss-making services but actually boost profitability on other routes to such an extent that the net result still see the overall bottom line getting boosted so they won't cut the loss making service. For Flybe, we may be seeing some routes chopped that fell into that category and with a reduced fleet, there's no scope to allow such loss leaders.

 

[smithy108]

That's a good point but also it may restrict the start of new routes if they don't have any stomach for losses in the first year as part of any business development on a new route. It really is suggesting that they will want to consolidate what they have and grow profitability as a short term goal and worry less about the medium to longer term.

 

[rollo]

You will find airlines that operate, if looked at on a stand-alone basis, loss-making services but actually boost profitability on other routes to such an extent that the net result still see the overall bottom line getting boosted so they won't cut the loss making service. For Flybe, we may be seeing some routes chopped that fell into that category and with a reduced fleet, there's no scope to allow such loss leaders.

Yes I understand and agree maybe they should use the terminology of network instead after all BA have been feeding LHR from the regions for years, i think we are on the same page.


Regards rollo

 

[Jerry]

What new routes do people think Flybe should be starting?

 

[rollo]

What new routes do people think Flybe should be starting?

BHX to MCO
LOL

 

[GliderPilot]

BHX - LHR and LCY

 

[Ray Finkle]

What new routes do people think Flybe should be starting?

Toulouse comes and goes but seems to see decent load factors. Rome is still well down on capacity and Lisbon is there for the taking although I'd prefer Jet2 or even TAP.

Those are obviously dependant on the routes lasting more than 5 months before disappearing again

 

[Ianbutty]

BHX to Southend please.

 

[Jerry]

Rome is still well down on capacity

They operate Rome from Cardiff and have been doing it a year now and it does seem popular and i think has an Alitalia codeshare. I do wonder if the problem for them at an airport like BHX is if they get a successful route then it attracts a bigger player like Ryanair or Jet2 ruining their yeild.