Flybe invests £4 million in business product
Low cost carrier Flybe has taken a swipe at rival British Airways as it unveiled a £4 million investment to bolster its business class product.
The move comes shortly after BA decided to scrap business class cabins on regional carrier CitiExpress – soon to be rebranded BA Connect.
Flybe has claimed BA’s decision and its own £4m cash injection will remove the “only remaining reason to travel legacy airline.” A statement said BA had “cut out and cut off its remaining business passengers.”
The investment in its Economy Plus service will see Flybe open executive lounges at all of its UK departure airports and European destinations. Wi-fi access will also be rolled out to the lounges.
The developments are in addition to existing Economy Plus benefits of dedicated check-in, advanced seat selection and complimentary on-board catering. A business to business website, www.flybe2b.com, has also been launched while air miles can also be accrued through Economy Plus.
Prices start from £99.99 one way.
Flybe director of marketing Simon Lilley said BA had shot itself in the foot by ripping out its business class cabins on CitiExpress.
“The only remaining reason to travel legacy airline has disappeared,” he said. “Today’s business travellers still have needs beyond a basic low cost offering but can no longer justify all of the costly bundled-in legacy carrier frills on short haul flights.”
Industry observers however said Flybe’s Economy Plus offering bears more than a passing resemblance to CitiExpress’s BA Connect Plus ticket.
For £110 one-way, BA is offering business travellers lounge access, seat selection, fast track through security and air miles for frequent flyers. The ticket is also fully flexible. But it will not offer in-flight catering or dedicated check-in desks.
BA said it would not enter into a row with Flybe but claimed its rival was “clearly worried”. A spokeswoman added that the development of lounges “appeared to be copying what BA already offer.”
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025