one of the reasons for the BRS closure could well be the number of crews who have left(deserted)
The reason so many deserted is exactly because of the complete lack of commitment to BRS that Flybe has shown right from the press release on day one of the acquisition announcement. I don't think any of us believed a BRS base would stay permanently in Flybe's plans given the history of Flybe with BRS, but the callous speed with which it was dropped even after assurances there would be 2 ERJ145s based here at least through summer 07 is why there is so much vitriol against them right now.
A great many of us were willing to give it a try. Yes, we were upset to loose the BA label even if we never did look through real BA tinted glasses, but the continued lack of communication and uncertainty over the post-acquisition issues has had even the most die hard believers tripping over each other to the exit door.
And, I said in another post somewhere, there's a strong whiff of BS surrounding the stated reasons for the BRS closing. We were often told that BRS was a good performing base. Our loads have been good on most routes where EZY didn't compete. The tickets aren't cheap so the yields can't be that bad. CDG has been a stalwart performer for years at BRS - you don't operate 4 flights per day for 10 years if the route isn't viable. Yet, all of a sudden 'there's no way we can see a financially viable model for maintaining a base at BRS'. Strong whiff, indeed.