From an article in the sunday Times today...interesting!
AIRLINES: Pilotless Flybe is easy prey
The Sunday Times (Danny Fortson) writes that Flybe could be a takeover target as it battles losses and the departure of chief executive Jim French. There is a view that it is now so cheap that a larger predator such as Aer Lingus could buy it as its regional network of flights could provide useful feed traffic for a bigger company. Flybe could also attract a rival regional operator that wants to consolidate operations. Either way, without a new chief executive in place, now may be the perfect time to make a move.