It’s a bit different though for Eastern and Blue Islands in that they are pre-existing independent airlines with little other business so must continue or die. Stobart Air only flies under the identity of others with the bulk of the business for EI. They could carry on with the SEN operation but in light of Covid-19 and collapse in bookings I wonder if they’re hiding behind the Flybe collapse (most of their passengers will consider themselves Flybe customers not Stobart) to minimise losses.
To support this theory, the Stobart press release refers to Flybe planning to operate ten routes from spring. It doesn’t mention seven of those were Stobart Air routes.