Flybe airline goes under

Flybe collapsed into administration last night with the loss of 2,400 jobs.

All Flybe flights out of Manchester and Liverpool have been cancelled.

One flight from Manchester to Belfast was halted last night, minutes before take off, when the firm collapsed. The Flybe plane was set to take off but returned to the terminal leaving passengers stranded.

More than 40 flights due to leave Manchester Airport have been cancelled this morning.

The travel industry has been hit by a series of high profile collapses in the last 12 months including Thomas Cook and Monarch.

A spokesman for Manchester Airport said: “All of the flights have been cancelled due to Flybe going into administration.

“There were 45 travelling in and 45 out, all of which are now cancelled. The CA website has all of the most up to date advice.”

The struggling airline has fallen victim to the Coronavirus crisis with many people cancelling their travel plans in recent weeks.

The firm officially entered administration at 3am this morning and has ceased trading immediately.

Flybe customers are being urged to make their own alternative travel arrangements via other airlines, rail or coach operators.

In a letter to staff chief executive Mark Anderson said: “Despite every effort, we now have no alternative – having failed to find a feasible solution to allow us to keep trading.

“I am very sorry that we have not been able to secure the funding needed to continue to deliver our turnaround,.”

A statement on the airline’s website said: “Flybe entered administration on 5 March 2020 and Alan Hudson, Joanne Robinson, Lucy Winterborne and Simon Edel of EY have been appointed as joint administrators. All flights have been grounded and the UK business has ceased trading with immediate effect.”

“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 fFybe flight, please contact the relevant airline or travel agent to confirm if there is any impact to your travel plans.”

Customers are also advised to monitor the Civil Aviation Authority website for further information.

Richard Moriarty chief executive at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “This is a sad day for UK aviation and we know that flybe’s decision to stop trading will be very distressing for all of its employees and customers.”

“We urge passengers planning to fly with this airline not to go to the airport as all flybe flights are cancelled. For the latest advice, flybe customers should visit the CAA website or the CAA’s Twitter feed for more information. Flybe also operated a number of codeshare partnerships with international airlines. If you have an international ticket you should make contact with that airline to confirm your travel arrangements.”

Flybe operated about 75 aircraft and served more than 80 airports across the UK and Europe.