Tag Archives: Flybe

Flybe to add two new routes to Amsterdam

Flybe (Exeter) has announced new year-round routes from Manchester and London City to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.

The airline will operate daily flights between Manchester and Amsterdam using 88-seat Embraer 175 jet aircraft from October 26, 2014.

Weekend flights are the order of the day from London City with the airline offering Saturday morning and Sunday evening flights on 78-seat Bombardier Q400 aircraft, conveniently timed for weekend leisure travel from November 1.

The two new routes complement those already featured in Flybe’s existing 2014-15 Winter schedule to Amsterdam. It also enhances the airline’s debut schedule out of London City, adding to those routes already announced to Aberdeen, Belfast City, Dublin, Edinburgh, Exeter and Inverness.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 170-200STD (ERJ 175) G-FBJC (msn 17000328) taxies at Amsterdam.

Flybe:

AAIB: Flybe captain’s prosthetic arm became detached resulting in a hard landing

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) of the United Kingdom has issued its report on the hard landing of Flybe‘s (Exeter) Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) G-JECJ (man 4110) on February 12, 2014 at Belfast City Airport, Northern Ireland with 47 passengers and four crew members:

Synopsis:

During the landing flare, in gusty conditions, the commander’s prosthetic arm became detached, control was lost, and a heavy landing resulted.

History of the flight

The aircraft was on a scheduled commercial air transport flight from Birmingham to Belfast City, with the commander, in the left flight deck seat, as pilot flying. It was night, and although there was no low cloud affecting the airport, the wind at Belfast was a strong west-south-westerly, gusting up to 48 kt. Before the approach, the commander checked that his prosthetic lower left arm was securely attached to the yoke clamp which he used to fly the aircraft, with the latching device in place.

Although gusts over the crosswind limit for the aircraft were reported, the final wind report from ATC was within the limit, and the approach continued. The commander disconnected the autopilot and flew the aircraft manually. As he made the flare manoeuvre, with somewhat more than flight idle torque still applied, his prosthetic limb became detached from the yoke clamp, depriving him of control of the aircraft. He made a rapid assessment of the situation and considered alerting the co-pilot and instructing him to take control. However, because the co-pilot would have had little time to assimilate the information necessary to take over in the challenging conditions, the commander concluded that his best course of action was to move his right hand from the power levers onto the yoke to regain control. He did this, but with power still applied, and possibly a gust affecting the aircraft, a normal touchdown was followed by a bounce, from which the aircraft landed heavily.

Safety action

The commander commented that he would in future be more cautious about checking the attachment on his prosthesis, as his check may have dislodged the latching mechanism; that he would brief his co-pilots about the possibility of a similar event; and that they should be ready to take control at any time.

Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) G-JECJ (msn 4110) lands at Southampton.

Flybe:

Flybe to fly the Aberdeen-London City route, replacing British Airways

Flybe (Exeter) is saving the Aberdeen to London City route, with twice daily flights starting on Monday, October 27, 2014. The route be flown with the pictured Bombardier DHC-8-402 (marketed as the Q400).

The news follows British Airway’s recent announcement that it would be withdrawing from the route at the end of the summer season, and after serious concern around the future of the service that is considered crucial given passenger demand that reflects the strength of the economy in the north of Scotland.

The airline has also announced five more routes to its 2014-15 Winter Schedule including two that are brand new, namely between Birmingham and Berlin (Tegel) with Embraer 175 aircraft and from East Midlands to Aberdeen (weekdays) also with Embraer 175 aircraft. The airline’s daily service between Exeter and Newcastle also returns from October 26, together with two winter ski routes to Geneva from Cardiff and Inverness that start on 20th December 20.

In total, Flybe’s 2014-15 Winter program now features 105 routes offering customers a choice of up to 2,809 flights a week: 16 routes being brand new, with a further 11 that include seasonal routes returning or being extended for the first time through winter.

Copyright Photo: Nik French/AirlinersGallery.com. Once painted in the special “Low cost, but not at any cost” color scheme, Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) G-JEDP (msn 4085) is now painted in the 2014 purple livery.

Flybe:

Current Flybe routes from London (City):

Flybe introduces “FlyShuttle” starting on October 26

Flybe (Exeter) starting on October 26 will introduce a new “FlyShuttle” service with Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) turboprop aircraft. The first route will be the Jersey-Southampton-Leeds/Bradford-Aberdeen route and return.

The airline unveiled this new concept with this announcement:

Jump on board FlyShuttle, an innovative, seamless and convenient way to travel around the UK! Just like a bus, you can hop on and off to destinations of your choice – without the hassle of traffic along the way!

Our first route from Jersey spans the length of the country with brief touch downs in Southampton and Leeds/Bradford before travelling on to Aberdeen. Here, you will turn around and head back down south.

With the first flight starting on October 26 this fast, multi-stop travel service provides increased frequency to some of our top UK destinations. The best bit? On UK flights you can continue to relax on board the plane between landing and take-off, avoiding the trouble of changing aircrafts.*

*Passengers arriving from the Channel Islands will be required to disembark to clear customs before connecting onwards.

Copyright Photo: Nik French/AirlinersGallery.com. Painted in the new purple look, Bombardier DHC-8-402 (marketed as the Q400) registered G-JECY (msn 4157) taxies at Manchester.

Flybe:

Flybe to restore the Inverness-Dublin route and open the Southampton-Hamburg route

Flybe (Exeter) will restore the Inverness-Dublin route on October 26 with Bombardier DHC-8-402s (Q400s). The airline issued this statement:

Flybe has confirmed its commitment to the Highlands and Islands this winter with the announcement of a brand new daily service from Inverness to Dublin. The new route starts on October 26. The airline has also confirmed extra flights on its popular Birmingham and Belfast City routes (increasing to six times a week), and to Manchester (to three flights a day). This news follows its announcement last month of a new twice daily service to London City which also starts on the same day.

In other news, Flybe has also has also confirmed its commitment to growth this winter announcing a brand new daily service between Southampton and Hamburg. The route starts on October 26, 2014.

In addition, the airline has also confirmed its popular sun routes from Southampton to Alicante, Malaga and Faro have been extended to operate through early November to accommodate half-term travel. The services to the two Spanish destinations will continue on as part of Flybe’s extensive 2014-15 winter schedule out of the south coast airport. All these flights will be operated by Flybe’s 118-seat Embraer 195 jet aircraft.

Increased flights to Dublin will operate during winter up to four times a day, and routes to regional France will also receive a winter boost with the addition of a twice weekly service to La Rochelle complementing Flybe’s existing winter routes to Bergerac, Nantes, Rennes and Limoges. Those looking to visit some of Europe’s best ski slopes will be pleased to hear of the return of Flybe’s flights to Grenoble, Geneva and Chambery.

Flybe’s 2014-15 Winter Schedule from Southampton features a total of 23 routes with a choice of up to 558 flights a week.

Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best/AirlinersGallery.com. Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) G-JECJ (msn 4110) lands at Southampton in the old 2002 livery.

Flybe:

Flybe to fly an Embraer 195 for Helvetic Airways this summer, becomes profitable again

Flybe (Exeter)has announced it has signed a contract with Helvetic Airways (Zurich), to provide the Swiss airline with a 118-seat Embraer 195 jet aircraft with flight deck and cabin crew, operating under Flybe’s Airline Operating Certificate (AOC) for a period of two months.

Helvetic Airlines operates flights frequented by both business and leisure customers to destinations in Europe and Northern Africa. Its arrangement with Flybe will run from July 1 through to August 31, 2014. The aircraft will operate three key routes from Zurich to Ohrid, Skopje (Macedonia) and Prishtina (Kosovo).

In other news, the company’s efforts to turn around the company are working. The company posted an £8 million ($13.4 million) net profit for its full fiscal year.

Read the full presentation: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Michael Kelly/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 190-200LR (ERJ 195) G-FBEB (msn 19000057) lands at Dublin.

Flybe:

Helvetic Airways:

Flybe to add 2 new routes from Birmingham to Hamburg and Oslo

Flybe (Exeter) has announced it will operate two new routes from Birmingham Airport this winter namely a daily service to Hamburg and Oslo from October 26, 2014 through to March 27, 2015 with Embraer 175s.

Already Birmingham Airport’s largest carrier, the airline has also announced (May 20, 2014) that, due to early successes, it will extend to year-round on six of the new routes it is operating this summer. Flybe will continue to operate up to 28 weekly flights to Cologne, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Florence and Oporto with frequency aimed to provide convenience for business travellers and those passengers wanting a short break on the continent. Due to the popularity of its summer twilight flights to Reykjavik, it’s also moving this three times a week service to daytime flying, also with effect from October 26.

The move is estimated to result in Flybe carrying an additional 100,000 passengers a year at Birmingham Airport. Altogether, it’s another exciting week for Flybe in Birmingham as its last four remaining inaugural flights for summer take off to Newquay, Bordeaux, Palma and Toulouse.

In total, Flybe will operate up to 350 flights a week from Birmingham on 26 routes as part of its 2014-15 winter schedule.

Copyright Photo: Rob Skinkis/AirlinersGallery.com. Embraer ERJ 170-100STD (ERJ 175) G-FBJA (msn 17000326) arrives in Manchester.

Flybe:

Routes from Birmingham:

Flybe expands operations at Birmingham to become the largest base

Flybe (Exeter) on April 10 celebrated the inaugural flight of eight new routes to operate from Birmingham Airport with passengers taking off to Cologne/Bonn on the carrier’s distinctive Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) signature purple aircraft (above).

On the same day, Flybe also took off on the first of its daily flights to Florence – the first time ever this route has been offered out of Birmingham. This was followed on April 11 with the airline’s inaugural flight to Porto (four days a week) and its four-days weekly service to Alicante (started on April 12).

The remaining four of Flybe’s new routes from Birmingham will take off in May, with Bordeaux, Palma de Mallorca and Toulouse starting on May 13 and Newquay on May 16.

The airline will also operate nonstop service from Birmingham to Ibiza (three days a week) and Keflavik (three days a week) from June 29 through September 7.

With a record 12 aircraft based at the airport, Birmingham has become Flybe’s largest base. This summer, it will be operating 32 routes to and from Birmingham with a total choice of up to 381 return flights a week.

Copyright Photo: Nik French/AirlinersGallery.com. The “Purple Plane”, namely Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) G-JECY (msn 4157), completes its final approach into Manchester International Airport (MAN).

Flybe:

Routes from Birmingham:

Stobart Air becomes a Flybe franchise

Stobart Air (formerly Aer Arann) (Dublin) has agreed a partnership with Flybe which will see Stobart Air operate services to mainland Europe. As part of a five-year deal, Stobart Air will operate Flybe-branded aircraft on six new European routes from London Southend Airport. All routes will fly from London Southend Airport to Antwerp, Rennes, Caen Normandy, Münster Osnabrück, Cologne Bonn and Groningen.

With the addition of the franchise agreement with Flybe, Stobart Air operates 764 flights per week across 33 routes from 22 departure points throughout the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Holland and Ireland.

Stobart Air is owned by the Stobart Group along with other investors. Stobart Group’s aviation assets comprise London Southend Airport; Carlisle Lake District Airport; Stobart Air; plus air freight, maintenance and airport services.

Stobart Air also operates franchise flights for Aer Lingus as Aer Lingus Regional.

Aer Arann:

Flybe paints the first aircraft in the new purple color scheme

Flybe (Exeter) today (April 1) unveiled its new “Faster than road or rail” purple livery. The pictured Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) G-JECY (msn 4157) was the first and was painted at East Midlands as part of its new advertising campaign.

Flybe:

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