by Stephen Slominski
Scottish regional airline Loganair have announced they are going to take up some of Flybe’s routes and could recruit Flybe staff.
• Flybe: Southampton airport’s biggest operator ceases trading
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Flybe accounted for 90% of Southampton Airport’s traffic until it went into administration earlier today but Loganair say they will take on 16 of Flybe’s routes including flights from Southampton to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle.
Loganair say they have opened a special recruitment line for former Flybe employees and will commence operations as early as Monday 16 March.
In a press release Loganair’s Chief Executive Jonathan Hinkles, pictured below, said:
“The collapse of a long-standing airline like Flybe marks a desperately sad day, especially for the airline’s dedicated team of employees and for customers facing disruption to their journeys.
By stepping in quickly with a comprehensive plan, Loganair is aiming to maintain essential air connectivity within the UK regions to keep customers flying, and to offer new employment to former Flybe staff members who are facing an uncertain future today.”
The safeguarding of these routes by Loganair will also help former Flybe ground handling agents and airport operators at locations such as Southampton to keep their jobs.
Customers formerly booked on Flybe services on the same routes will need to make new bookings at www.loganair.co.uk, and obtain a refund via their payment card provider for tickets booked with Flybe. In common with all other airlines, Loganair has no access to Flybe systems or customer data to be able to facilitate re-bookings.
Chief Executive Jonathan Hinkles added:
“The plan represents the outcome of several weeks of behind-the-scenes contingency planning work, during which we’ve evaluated many routes and aircraft.
It’s critical to the continued success of our own airline that we refrain from over-expansion, and that our growth can be delivered within our operational and financial means. I am confident that the plans being announced today are robust and sustainable, enabling former Flybe customers to benefit from Loganair’s high standards of customer service and on-time performance on a range of new routes, with a strong emphasis on those to and from our Scottish heartlands.”
Stephen Slominski | Eastleigh News
Previously
Flybe: Southampton airport’s biggest operator ceases trading