Originally Posted by
wanna
I think its fairly well established Stobarts issues started with Flybe and Connect. Then just as that all cam tumbling down COVID hit. Prior to all this and when just under the EI contract it was a profitable business that worked. Wasn't it Walsh that said they had got distracted by far away hills? Too many pies and not enough fingers.
That was certainly mentioned at the time, can't remember by who. RE was looking to grow/merge for sometime, they had a brief tryst with Cityjet too. Stobart seemed like a good idea - but has a combined airline/airport (± a haulage business) ever worked? The truth is that airlines, airports and ground handlers have competing interests and there isn't much room for synergy. flyBe was a financial black hole for many years, but a combination of Virgin, RE and BE was sold as a cure-all. Again, there was little synergy in this trifecta and no obvious network opportunities. Worse again, EI/IAG were less than pleased about it and gave their regional flying to a start-up, the SAS contract at flyBe was ended. The future was bleak even before COVID hit.
Emerald might be fortunate in its timing. All being well travel should be strong over the summer, if they get their aircraft in the air. BHD should continue to perform well. The only fly in the ointment will be FRs increased presence on UK-Ireland routes and what EI do with teh transatlantic summer schedule - if it is significantly pruned then the transfer opportunities will be less. I wish them well though as the model is fundamentally sound.