Slot pairs at AMS or CDG do not sell for $75m a time like they do at LHR.

I would not read too much into the "Connect" part. BA Connect did no feed BA at LHR or LGW, despite the Connect part in its name.

And how will they get slots at LHR? You cannot just give them a call and they will hand you dozens of slots on a silverplate, even if you are Scrooge McDuck. And we are not talkig about "slots" for an additional daily flight or so, but about slots that are suitable for running a proper hub and spoke operation feeding VS longhaul flights.

This evenings update doesn't add much to what has been released already apart from a clear indication of "downsizing" - no hint as to how big that might be. Also I'm now convinced this will be a relatively slow transition so no major fireworks immediately.

Agreed. 'Connect Airways' is the name of the holding company on the initial buyout so unless they had a comprehensive business plan from day one (and the length of time it's taken to roll the brand out suggests they had no such thing) it's just a name.

​​​​​​Of course Rivet Joint, that was my point. I never expected any investment/ order but reading on this forum it was seen as a hot option... despite the current Swiss set back I think 220 is a super plane and well do great.

From this morning's news:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-50066255

Plus all what we have heard from Virgin hints at no change, but at business as usual:

"At its heart, Virgin Connect will be passionately focused on becoming Europe's most loved and successful regional airline".
"As Flybe, we have been connecting passengers across the UK and Europe for 40 years...Virgin Connect will continue our work as Europe’s Largest Regional Airline."
"We will differentiate ourselves in the regional market upon rebranding next year."
"We will remain true to our heritage and reason for being, which is offering essential regional connectivity to local communities."
"We’ll be saying goodbye to purple and hello to red...whilst continuing to connect the regions & our passengers to what matters most."


Btw, the Virgin Connect brand already exists for a Virigin broadband operator in Russia. So I guess flights to Russia will be out of question....

EXTLCY
 

Flybe have regularly reduced some services from Exeter during January in the past. There are fewer business passengers flying during that period apparently.

Virgin Connect
 

The way they revealed their news in a football pitch with no reference to air travel left me thinking they were more disconnected than connected

Not a football pitch but a rugby pitch. Exeter Chiefs who Flybe sponsor and do charters for.

From the picture they used a drone to capture that image. Would Exeter Airport have welcomed that so they could get a photo in front of a hangar or similar infrastructure?

Imagine someone actually got paid for producing that load of ****. Embarrassing is an under-statement. The word '​underwhelmed' comes to mind. I could do 20 times better than that myself, and I've got no marketing skills whatsoever. I think the management need to be a little more enthused about their new airline.

As a total outsider, but someone who works in "big business" I would say that they have deliberately kept this somewhat low key, due to the circumstances - that could, and I suspect already have, impacted some staff adversely.

Flybe (even as they stand today) provide so many connections around (and outside) of the UK that nobody else does, and that people rely on, that I can't see an overnight/wholesale change to feeding VS/Delta etc. long-haul only.

We are already seeing a 'slimmed down' airline with regards to route network/inventory and this will probably be slashed even further when S20 is released. As discussed previous, I really cannot see how the new business will make money from their long haul bases (MAN/LHR) as the majority of regional traffic doesn't feed in to these hubs. Could understand if BHX was also a VS hub but instead looks like this deal has been done in readiness for runway 3 at LHR and greater slot allocations!

That's a big bet then given current climate change motivations

I thought "Virgin Connect" was a rather select dating site . . .:O

A £2.2m gamble they may see as worth taking!

Oh, sure - though a risky play for a route so dependent on commuters; guess the assumption is that the train product is now so dire they'll always come back. Though my info may be out of date as the flights are still on sale