Isle of Man-2
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: earth
Posts: 951
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Flybe has announced that the airline will no longer have a base on the Isle of Man as part of a new programme with Stobart Air taking over operations.
In a statement released by the company today they say that the final Heathrow service will cease to operate on Friday 26 October this year - something Energy FM News reported in May.
It states that flights between Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester will continue as normal, with two Stobart Air models replacing the Flybe Q400s.
They say that the existing contract with the Isle of Man Department of Health and Social Care will remain in place, supporting customers seeking to access health services in the UK.
New Stobart Air operations are planned to enter service on 5 January neat year, followed by a second ATR on 29 March 2020, when Stobart Air will assume full Isle of Man operations and continue to operate these routes.
In a statement released by the company today they say that the final Heathrow service will cease to operate on Friday 26 October this year - something Energy FM News reported in May.
It states that flights between Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester will continue as normal, with two Stobart Air models replacing the Flybe Q400s.
They say that the existing contract with the Isle of Man Department of Health and Social Care will remain in place, supporting customers seeking to access health services in the UK.
New Stobart Air operations are planned to enter service on 5 January neat year, followed by a second ATR on 29 March 2020, when Stobart Air will assume full Isle of Man operations and continue to operate these routes.
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Wales
Posts: 1,316
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes they did and the previous management took it inhouse. It will be interesting to see if Stobart take over other bases or former bases.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Isle of Man
Posts: 403
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In any event I thought that Stobart had injected their flying assets into the new Connect set up, so FlyBe, Stobart, Connect should all be one big happy family, before long.
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Wales
Posts: 1,316
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This looks like further muddled, confused, short-term decision making by the new regime, as far as IOM is concerned. A media release quoted by Manx Radio apparently says that the Q400’s are “unsuited” to IOM operations which is clearly a lie. The IOM routes are very similar to 75% of the BE network, in terms of distance, frequency and traffic, and BE operated them very happily, for 10 years before Stobart came on the scene.
In any event I thought that Stobart had injected their flying assets into the new Connect set up, so FlyBe, Stobart, Connect should all be one big happy family, before long.
I don't know the costs but maybe the ATR is more profitable on routes from IOM?
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: London
Posts: 746
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If the base is closing, does that mean that the 2 stobart aircraft which will be operating the routes will be nightstop aircraft from another base,
Or does it mean that Stobart will open a base at IOM albeit that Stobart and Flybe are effectively the same company (Connect).
Its well confusing...........
Or does it mean that Stobart will open a base at IOM albeit that Stobart and Flybe are effectively the same company (Connect).
Its well confusing...........
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,175
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Where are the (two?) ATR72s needed for future IOM-operations based at the moment? They need to be replaced there as well unless the routes on which they are currently used will be chopped.
The Flybe booking website currently shows that the SEN ATR routes will be discontinued in February/March. On that basis it looks like the IoM services will use the SEN aircraft. Whether those SEN services (GRQ ,RNS, NQY, CFR) will be resumed in some other way I have no idea.
I think that an earlier statement from about a year ago suggested those SEN ATR operations would only run to February 2020.
I think that an earlier statement from about a year ago suggested those SEN ATR operations would only run to February 2020.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Isle of Man
Posts: 403
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Flybe booking website currently shows that the SEN ATR routes will be discontinued in February/March. On that basis it looks like the IoM services will use the SEN aircraft. Whether those SEN services (GRQ ,RNS, NQY, CFR) will be resumed in some other way I have no idea.
I think that an earlier statement from about a year ago suggested those SEN ATR operations would only run to February 2020.
I think that an earlier statement from about a year ago suggested those SEN ATR operations would only run to February 2020.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Isle of Man
Posts: 403
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Of course, one thing no one has mentioned, is that Stobart management are now (partly) calling the shots, and the FlyBe management, who threw them off the routes six months ago are now............well who knows where they are!
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: iom
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I also have a suspicion that they had difficulty crewing the base with local staff. I flew BHX-IOM earlier this summer and a number of the passengers were Flybe cabin crew, in full uniform, presumably positioning to the island to operate flights.
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Wales
Posts: 1,316
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
They have a general shortage of crew anyway at Cardiff they are having to use Southampton based crew.
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,175
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I should have asked differently, so here we go: When IOM switched from Stobart to Flybe in March this year, where did the based ATR72s move to? They have only been deployed elsewhere now for something like half a year and I wonder if they are the examples that will return to IOM.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: back end of beyond
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I should have asked differently, so here we go: When IOM switched from Stobart to Flybe in March this year, where did the based ATR72s move to? They have only been deployed elsewhere now for something like half a year and I wonder if they are the examples that will return to IOM.
My suggestion that the IoM ATRs would be sourced from the SEN operation is now looking less likely. The Flybe SEN timetable has changed again, now showing GRQ, CFR and NQY continuing to the end of the winter period, instead of ending prematurely though RNS apparently only runs to March 1.. Perhaps this is another error that will be resolved soon !
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: back end of beyond
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My suggestion that the IoM ATRs would be sourced from the SEN operation is now looking less likely. The Flybe SEN timetable has changed again, now showing GRQ, CFR and NQY continuing to the end of the winter period, instead of ending prematurely though RNS apparently only runs to March 1.. Perhaps this is another error that will be resolved soon !
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW England
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW England
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You may be right about the Q400, but to say they are “unsuited” is just a bare-faced lie. If the ATR economics are better, then say they make the network “more sustainable”.
Of course, one thing no one has mentioned, is that Stobart management are now (partly) calling the shots, and the FlyBe management, who threw them off the routes six months ago are now............well who knows where they are!
Of course, one thing no one has mentioned, is that Stobart management are now (partly) calling the shots, and the FlyBe management, who threw them off the routes six months ago are now............well who knows where they are!
I do wonder whether this is one area where the new regime are flexing their muscles on the business and who's driving the change?
