Bottom line, this money has been collected from consumers by flybe on behalf of HMRC. It is NOT flybe's to keep!
Furthermore, if a ham-fisted bail-out is agreed here on some altruistic basis solely to maintain flybe's 'essential UK regional connectivity', the whole process will open up a massive can of worms unless carriers like easyJet and Ryanair get equivalent tax break support in the same markets. Otherwise suppliers in the chain like airports and handlers who are providing basement charges to promote and sustain growth on these routes with the low cost airlines would not only end up supporting their own business and faciltating a take for Treasury, they would also indirectly and totally unsustainably finish up propping flybe's business! Where would the unravelling within the industry end!??? .