flyBe isn’t particularly profitable and has a huge Brexit risk profile, in the UK market. Stobart isn’t much better, it’s main market being U.K.-IRL services for Aer Lingus and AerArann nearly went broke flying these routes without the EI brand. I’m not convinced a Stobart takeover of flyBe is all that sensible, but Stobart are very keen to merge RE with someone. Presumably to float at some point.
On a positive note, it would potentially be easier for the Stobart group to re-capatilise flyBe than for an independent flyBe. Which might be useful if Stobart fancy some more jets for SEN and to replace/refinance the E-Jet fleet, which are apparently on poor terms.
All of that said, if this is just to grow SEN, what’s to stop Stobart leasing more 195s or used A319s and paining them purple? There must be more to it than SEN alone?