Originally Posted by
Skipness One Foxtrot
What exactly DID they fall out with Loganair over that got so out of hand? Was the proposed new franchise agreement a lot less attractive to one party or both?
Flybe presented Loganair with a new franchise agreement with, I suppose laudably, higher standards. However, it failed to take into account the fact that Loganair flies to destinations with some of the UK's harshest weather. I think Flybe also wanted more money overall.
So Loganair decided (or were forced) to fly under their own name again, and where negotiating a codeshare agreement with Flybe.
Unknown to them, Flybe had other ideas... cherry-picking Loganair's best routes (to the islands) and using Eastern as their new franchise partner, to compete directly with Loganair.
It was a disaster, with Eastern's Embraer totally unsuitable for the Shetland run, in the first two months they cancelled 32% of services, while Loganair cancelled 17%.
Fares of £29 from Shetland to Aberdeen didn't attract passengers, and some loads were in single figures.
I recall, at Kirkwall, seeing 2 passengers boarding a Flybe flight to Aberdeen.
https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2017/12/0...at-went-wrong/
https://www.orcadian.co.uk/flybe-end-kirkwall-flights/