But that's the plan. They called themselves British European, use BE as an IATA code ( formerly BEA if you had to ask ), fly BA codeshares, have former BA staff. Do you really think BA have handed over everything outside of London to flybe and surrendered all that market share willy nilly?
I bet they'll be bought out by BA before too long. BA get all the routes back and make money for the first time ever as staff are not on BA Ts and Cs. It's not BA, it's flybe operating as BA, keep it at arms length. For the first time BA can afford to fly people from A to B outside of Heathrow.
I'll get my coat and outrun the angry ex Rashers now.....
Let's not forget BA already own 15% of FlyBE, the stake was acquired when they sold of the regional ops of BACON.
I always think the history of BA and it's regional affiliates is very interesting....and by history I include the pre-BA period of BOAC/BE. The airline has a long history of closing down/selling off regional arms and then bit by bit taking them back under its wing, in recent years as Franchise carriers. To be honest I have always felt that Eastern almost has the best fit to become the next BA Franchise carrier, but yes, FlyBE would have to be on the list, once the strategy changes again, the oly thing is, I think FlyBe is actually too big for the games BA and it's predecessors played in the past.