Flybe

[Jerry]

Have I read you correctly? Are you saying that EXT-NWI is/was a PSO route? I can't remember that.

Isn't it just a revenue positioning flight? Maybe in the future like LBA-NQY it qualifies for some sort of subsidy from the regional connectivity fund if that is still going?

 

[737 400]

I think it depends on whether the hq stays there or not. If it gets moved I could see Exeter going like Cardiff and being operated by non based aircraft and the crew base being closed.

The new name 'Connect Airways' speaks volumes - the new owners will probably be only interested in keeping services which connect into their own routes.

I would have thought that EXT will retain a crew base, however expensive facilities such as HQ and maintenance functions etc must be in question and will probably be relocated to those of the new owners.

 

[Jerry]

I would have thought that EXT will retain a crew base, however expensive facilities such as HQ and maintenance functions etc must be in question and will probably be relocated to those of the new owners.

If the HQ and training base gets relocated then the base might not be guarenteed. A lot of EXT's routes could be covered by non based aircraft and crew overnighting. Only time will tell.

 

[737 400]

If the HQ and training base gets relocated then the base might not be guarenteed. A lot of EXT's routes could be covered by non based aircraft and crew overnighting. Only time will tell.

Why would a crew base at EXT still require the HQ to be located at Exeter? The EXT crew base is/would be exactly the same as any other crew base located elsewhere in the UK.

 

[Jerry]

Why would a crew base at EXT still require the HQ to be located at Exeter? The EXT crew base is/would be exactly the same as any other crew base located elsewhere in the UK.

If the HQ is removed then Exeter would like you say be just like any other base and if they needed to cut more bases then it would be more vulnerable to be cut due to it not being the HQ airport anymore in my belief.

 

[737 400]

Have I read you correctly? Are you saying that EXT-NWI is/was a PSO route? I can't remember that.

See this link regarding the EXT-NWI route -

New Norwich Flights with Flybe - Exeter Airport

First Route for Regional Air Connectivity Fund The first new route to be operated under the Government’s Regional Air Connectivity Fund launches today with the start of Flybe flights between Exeter and Norwich airports. Fares start from just £17.49 one-way including taxes and charges, and with a...

www.exeter-airport.co.uk

 

[TheLocalYokel]

See this link regarding the EXT-NWI route -

New Norwich Flights with Flybe - Exeter Airport

First Route for Regional Air Connectivity Fund The first new route to be operated under the Government’s Regional Air Connectivity Fund launches today with the start of Flybe flights between Exeter and Norwich airports. Fares start from just £17.49 one-way including taxes and charges, and with a...

www.exeter-airport.co.uk

Thank you for that. So it is a route begun three years ago supported by the Regional Air Connectivity Fund as Jerry suggested in an earlier post, and not a PSO (Public Service Obligation) route which of course is an entirely different animal.

 

[Flybeboy]

More cuts to come, talk at the airport is more base closers and routes to be cut back. But good news is the routes doing well will all get extra flights from aprll i can see more flights from exeter to paris, amsterdam etc. The IOM base is not looking good, and more cuts at belfast and glasgow i here. We will wait to hear. Still no news on weather the hq, main, training are staying at exeter, the rummers, talk is they are .!?

 

[Jerry]

More cuts to come, talk at the airport is more base closers and routes to be cut back. But good news is the routes doing well will all get extra flights from aprll i can see more flights from exeter to paris, amsterdam etc. The IOM base is not looking good, and more cuts at belfast and glasgow i here. We will wait to hear. Still no news on weather the hq, main, training are staying at exeter, the rummers, talk is they are .!?

Apparently the IOM is going back to Stobart? I can see Glasgow being closed as most of it's routes can be served by away based aircraft. I'm surprised if they cut Belfast but I wonder if they will close Aberdeen and just overnight Edinburgh crews there.
As for Exeter hopefully it won't be effected!

 

[superking]

It would cost a lot of money to move all the different departments to another air port. All the back up and training is well set up at Exeter so my money is on that it will stay at Exeter.

 

[Jerry]

It would cost a lot of money to move all the different departments to another air port. All the back up and training is well set up at Exeter so my money is on that it will stay at Exeter.

Depends on whether they feel it would save them money in the long term.

 

[superking]

I would say rates for the buildings round London and Manchester way would be way higher than where they are now.Also in Exeter they have all the staff to cover each department there,if they move they would have cost of traininbg staff and relocate staff,none of that comes cheap.

 

[Jerry]

I would say rates for the buildings round London and Manchester way would be way higher than where they are now.Also in Exeter they have all the staff to cover each department there,if they move they would have cost of traininbg staff and relocate staff,none of that comes cheap.

Depends, they could for instance move operations control to say Virgin in Gatwick, same with the flight crew training especially if eventually it gets rebranded to a Virgin name. Only time will tell.

 

[737 400]

Any HQ and associated functions are expensive. These days nearly all functions can easily be merged in to one HQ with long-term saving benefits.
Just saying from past experience working at HQ level in the transport sector…. but who knows?

 

[superking]

Any HQ and associated functions are expensive. These days nearly all functions can easily be merged in to one HQ with long-term saving benefits.
Just saying from past experience working at HQ level in the transport sector…. but who knows?

It more or less how close the Flybe ops are to the Virgin ops in a tie up of the 2 companies.Virgin might want Flybe head office to merge with their own. Time will tell. Or leave Flybe head office in Exeter.

 

[Jerry]

It more or less how close the Flybe ops are to the Virgin ops in a tie up of the 2 companies.Virgin might want Flybe head office to merge with their own. Time will tell. Or leave Flybe head office in Exeter.

I don't see them merging them but having them under the same roof? Yes. But it will also depend what Stobart and Cyrus want as well. Virgin aren't the main shareholder.

 

[Flybeboy]

The new boss said on bbc sw spotlight that he will try and keep the flybe \new virgin connect in exeter. He seem to be more possative about the maintance staying and the exeter base it self. He said the new summer 2020 timetable will be out in a couple of weeks or so so we will see want routes are going staying, .he said people have to use the flights or!!!!?.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The new boss said on bbc sw spotlight that he will try and keep the flybe \new virgin connect in exeter. He seem to be more possative about the maintance staying and the exeter base it self. He said the new summer 2020 timetable will be out in a couple of weeks or so so we will see want routes are going staying, .he said people have to use the flights or!!!!?.

Doubts cast over Flybe staying at its Exeter HQ

Chief executive Mark Anderson made it clear that a major restructuring exercise was under way and couldn't deny job losses

www.devonlive.com

The local newspaper takes a slightly pessimistic view of the airline's headquarters remaining at Exeter following the interview with the Virgin Connect CEO (embedded in this linked report), but engineering and routes seem to have a better chance although everything appears to be up for negotiation and evaluation.

This quote from the CEO is perhaps relevant, “I’m in a number of conversations with the local authorities, with the airport and with others to look at how we can work more collaboratively to build a long-term strategic plan and to invest in the future. It’s true, we could be located in other places. We’re very proud of being in Exeter, but I don’t think that commitment can be taken for granted."

The cynic in me wonders whether they are looking for some financial support from the region keep the old Flybe presence at EXT - not necesarily the routes but the headquarters, engineering and training academy.

 

[737 400]

Doubts cast over Flybe staying at its Exeter HQ

Chief executive Mark Anderson made it clear that a major restructuring exercise was under way and couldn't deny job losses

www.devonlive.com

The local newspaper takes a slightly pessimistic view of the airline's headquarters remaining at Exeter following the interview with the Virgin Connect CEO (embedded in this linked report), but engineering and routes seem to have a better chance although everything appears to be up for negotiation and evaluation.

This quote from the CEO is perhaps relevant, “I’m in a number of conversations with the local authorities, with the airport and with others to look at how we can work more collaboratively to build a long-term strategic plan and to invest in the future. It’s true, we could be located in other places. We’re very proud of being in Exeter, but I don’t think that commitment can be taken for granted."

The cynic in me wonders whether they are looking for some financial support from the region keep the old Flybe presence at EXT - not necesarily the routes but the headquarters, engineering and training academy.

An interesting interview on last nights BBC Spotlight program and I sense that the whole operation in it's new format will be regarded as nothing more than being supplimentry to Virgin Atlantic....

 

[Flybeboy]

they want local auth, councils to keep flybe \ virgin connect in the southwest. But the ceo is moving to exeter ive been told, so what does that tell you!?