Flybe unveils new routes from three UK airports
Flybe has confirmed the launch of new routes from Bournemouth, Aberdeen and Stansted airports starting next spring.
It will base two Q400 aircraft at Bournemouth starting in March, flying twice daily services to Glasgow and Manchester and four weekly services to Amsterdam and Paris Charles de Gaulle.
In addition, Flybe will also serve French and Spanish sun destinations to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
In March, Flybe will also begin limited operations at Stansted, without basing aircraft or crew there.
It will introduce a twice-daily service to Newcastle and a triple daily service to the Isle of Man, which will also provide additional frequency on the Isle of Man-Manchester route.
London Stansted will also a new summer service to Newquay.
Meanwhile, Flybe will re-establish an aircraft and crew base at Aberdeen Airport, also in March. It closed its operation in Aberdeen earlier this year.
Routes have not been announced, but Flybe said four Q400 aircraft will be based in Aberdeen in a bid to ‘build a strong and vibrant operation in the North East of Scotland that benefits both the local community and those seeking access to Aberdeen from other regions of the UK and Europe’.
The plans were unveiled as Flybe published its financial results for the six months to September 30.
The airline revealed a half-year pre-tax loss for the group of £15.4 million for the period compared to profit after tax of £13.6 million for the same period last year, impacted by £34.3 million of ‘one-offs and revaluations’.
Adjusted profit before tax for the UK was up £2 million to £13.7 million, despite a £6 million provision for EU 261 flight delay compensation.
Passenger revenue per seat in the UK increased 8.7% to £54.75, while load factor increased 8.6ppts to a record 77.2%.
Flybe also announced today the sale of its 60% share in loss making Flybe Finland for €1 to Finnair, its joint venture partner.
The share purchase agreement is conditional only upon competition authority approval in Finland and is aiming for a January 1 completion.
Flybe said it was on track to deliver £24 million of incremental full year cost savings, in line with previously announced plans to cut routes and jobs.
"Though our business transformation is far from complete, we are seeing the benefits of improved commercial execution with the right cost base and we now have improved operational and financial disciplines throughout our organisation," said CEO Saad Hammad.
"Whilst there are still a number of challenges ahead, Flybe enters the winter season with solid momentum in its core UK business."
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026