Flybe-V1
Join Date: Mar 2004
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You just have to laugh. This was an airline which in its first incarnation had something like four different colour schemes on the go at the time it ceased trading as each new CEO introduced one. It goes bankrupt, restarts and the first thing the next CEO does is come up with another new colour scheme. What's the point? If you were going to change the brand in its entirety then I can understand why you would need a new scheme, but this is just a continuation of the previous comedy sketch.
Join Date: Feb 2018
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This is far from a continuation, it’s a fresh start, a reset and a new business. All the past terrible business decisions wiped clean. I like the new paint scheme - keep it simple. It’s going to be an interesting few months
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I don't disagree that it's an interesting few months ahead, but I disagree with the reset and a new business. If that was genuinely the case, you wouldn't have painted Flybe down the side of the 'plane. But they very clearly have.
When I finished at Flybe two years ago there were 5 different colour shemes on the Q400 fleet.
Blue and white, purple/ yellow/ red / white, new purple and white, old Brussels blue fin, old Continental airlines.
I hoped to get a photo of all 5 on stands 1 to 5 at SOU but never saw that, only saw 4 in a row.
Blue and white, purple/ yellow/ red / white, new purple and white, old Brussels blue fin, old Continental airlines.
I hoped to get a photo of all 5 on stands 1 to 5 at SOU but never saw that, only saw 4 in a row.
Jamie2009
Yeah try telling that to all the people who got burnt and lost money due to the previous Flybe.
I agree with Albert Hall, it’s just laughable. If anything, the ‘new’ flybe should be running a mile from the old one in terms of marketing and branding.
Yeah try telling that to all the people who got burnt and lost money due to the previous Flybe.
I agree with Albert Hall, it’s just laughable. If anything, the ‘new’ flybe should be running a mile from the old one in terms of marketing and branding.
Join Date: Aug 2009
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It is bizarre. How many other businesses have been relaunched from bankrupt predecessors with the same name and similar branding? Especially ones which had such a notable ending. They seem to think there is value in the brand. I am not so sure.
The only airline examples I can think of are in the US and they didn’t last - Pan Am, Eastern.
The only airline examples I can think of are in the US and they didn’t last - Pan Am, Eastern.
I can think of many, though not necessarily businesses with a high public profile, though there have been several retailers that have been bought out of administration as a "pre-pack" have royally shat over the creditors of the former business. Adding "2021" to the former business name normally does the trick.
It's immoral, but it happens every day of the week. If the new airline has the goodwill of creditors such as airports, fuel suppliers, Eurocontrol and the like then that's half the battle. For passengers, if the offer (price and schedule) is right most, but not all, will happily pay up and fly.
It's immoral, but it happens every day of the week. If the new airline has the goodwill of creditors such as airports, fuel suppliers, Eurocontrol and the like then that's half the battle. For passengers, if the offer (price and schedule) is right most, but not all, will happily pay up and fly.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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A good friend of mine, with a lot of experience in the industry said to me at the time, with the crazy leasing structure in place due to past Walker Trust dealings, they never stood a chance. The only way that company could have survived was to shut down and start again. They had to shake of those legacy leases and aircraft and it was the only way. The COVID 19 Pandemic came right in the middle of the event, it was going to happen anyway. It's what has delayed the whole restart. Fundamentally, if it wasn't for those outrageous leases, the airline was a sound business. I wish it well and hope they can get back as many of the superb pilots and cabin crew they had before back into the skies soon. The Q400 is by far a better aeroplane than the other regional turboprops out there. I wish them well.
Join Date: Aug 2020
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I'm not sure how accurate that is. The costs of the Embraers were certainly outrageous - but I'm fairly certain if you go through the accounts and remove the lease costs the airline still loses money for the last few years.
The main issue with the lease agreements on the Dash 8's was they left the airline in a position where they had no control over the size of the fleet and were committed to operating 70+ aircraft when they didn't really have anywhere to operate them. Hence the new bases which were tried in the last few years, Bournemouth, Liverpool etc - they were desperate to fly the aircraft somewhere to try to limit loss.
Fundamentally the leases were signed by the management. The leases were onerous but I think it was the outrageous management which fundamentally lead to the airline's demise.
The main issue with the lease agreements on the Dash 8's was they left the airline in a position where they had no control over the size of the fleet and were committed to operating 70+ aircraft when they didn't really have anywhere to operate them. Hence the new bases which were tried in the last few years, Bournemouth, Liverpool etc - they were desperate to fly the aircraft somewhere to try to limit loss.
Fundamentally the leases were signed by the management. The leases were onerous but I think it was the outrageous management which fundamentally lead to the airline's demise.
Cavokblues, thank you. The largest single issue was the huge Embraer commitment which tied the airline into a lot of expensive aeroplanes that it did not need and had to go through all sorts of hoops to try to escape. There were a hundred and one other challenges, mistakes, errors and misjudgements which contributed to Flybe's eventual demise. Heathrow was one, and it's interesting to see that it is apparently part of the new plan, although the bmi remedy slots have been handed back for this winter season.
Join Date: Feb 2018
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Getting a strange feeling of deja vu here. Who cares! It’s all history and it’s not as if any of us know the full picture but are fully aware of how it came to a demise.
The new company should be mindful of the past mistakes but they’re unlikely to be repeated.
onwards and upwards….
I can see the launch including codeshares with virgin and it would really lay down the gauntlet if they went after the oil contracts from eastern / Logan although I doubt they’ll have the capacity at the start.
The new company should be mindful of the past mistakes but they’re unlikely to be repeated.
onwards and upwards….
I can see the launch including codeshares with virgin and it would really lay down the gauntlet if they went after the oil contracts from eastern / Logan although I doubt they’ll have the capacity at the start.
Join Date: Dec 2020
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I agree that going after an established carrier such as Loganair would be a very poor strategy, but as far as we're concerned at the minute, the new airline is probably being (relatively) generously funded by Cyrus. The "old" company was already on its knees by the time of the Loganair/Eastern debacle. Unless Flybe want to be competed against from all sides, it will be very interesting to see whether they "team up" with LM/SI or T3/GR.
Join Date: Aug 2009
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No more than what is available to others. Such subsidy would be technically illegal state aid and likely to cause issues if it wasn’t given transparently and fairly. Hence why Ryanair is constantly in court. They do have PSO routes which probably help keep the budget healthy.
Surely since the UK left the EU the government can pretty well do what it wants regarding state aid.
Join Date: Jun 2008
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Dorking
..until then we'll have to listen to the nonsense spouted by all the naysayers on here. CAN WE NOW PLEASE be happy for those people who might get their jobs back, and the 100s of jobs this new airline will not only create, but also support at all the airports they chose to operate to.
Big thumbs up to all involved.
Jamie2009
Exactly. This is Flybe Ltd, new company, new owners, & despite the same name, all the old legacy decisions and mistakes now sit with the old company - which is Flybe Realisations Ltd for anyone keeping score (paying attention)
..until then we'll have to listen to the nonsense spouted by all the naysayers on here. CAN WE NOW PLEASE be happy for those people who might get their jobs back, and the 100s of jobs this new airline will not only create, but also support at all the airports they chose to operate to.
Big thumbs up to all involved.
Jamie2009
Exactly. This is Flybe Ltd, new company, new owners, & despite the same name, all the old legacy decisions and mistakes now sit with the old company - which is Flybe Realisations Ltd for anyone keeping score (paying attention)
Last edited by RogueOne; 22nd Oct 2021 at 16:58.