Originally Posted by
OltonPete
If flybe have any sense they will not operate one 145 after 27/3/07
or whatever the date of changeover is - all assuming this goes ahead!
Pete
I think we need to be a little realistic on this. Flybe will not have the option to simply dump 28 EMB145's onto the open market and have 28 new Q400's before March '07. Whilst not ideal it would appear that Flybe have indicated the phasing out of the 145 fleet as quickly as possible to allow for their replacement with Q400's/195's, whilst at the same time allowing for retraining of crews.
It could well be that a 145 operating a niche route such as BHXDUS actually makes money in BAConnect guise. Not all the routes are turkeys, otherwise why would Flybe be interested? A 145 flying six sectors a day may not make money but get it flying ten a day and the gaping financial hole may begin to close over.
Don't get me wrong, i'm sure that they don't feature in the long term plans as Flybe have already indicated that they have settled on Q400's and 195's but something has to ply the routes until the fleet transition is fully completed.