Hugely popular British airline to restart flights by Easter after collapsing due to Covid

FLYBE is expected to restart flights this year, with hopes to relaunch routes from the UK by Easter.

The airline, which collapsed in March 2020, has started operating training flights across the UK, being spotted flying over Cornwall last week.

The regional carrier confirmed last year they will open a new base in Birmingham this year.

A spokesperson said: "Flybe is preparing for its spring launch and is currently busy recruiting and completing training flights around the UK.

"At present, we are planning a schedule to accompany the launch and will be announcing further details on our routes in the near future."

Flybe said the opening of its headquarters in Birmingham is expected to create approximately 200 new jobs in the Birmingham and West Midlands region over the next three years.

The airline's chief executive Dave Pflieger previously said: "We are thrilled to be partnering with Birmingham Airport, the City of Birmingham, and the Mayor of West Midlands to make BHX the location of our new headquarters and first crew base.

"It was an ideal choice for us due to its great people and highly skilled workforce, its central UK location, and the fact that Birmingham Airport is a global travel hub where local and connecting customers have access to over 150 worldwide destinations."

Flybe was pushed into administration in March 2020 with the loss of 2,400 jobs as the pandemic destroyed large parts of the travel market.

Before going bust in March 2020, the airline flew approximately eight million passengers a year, both in the UK and Europe.

Its business and assets were purchased in April 2021 by Thyme Opco, which is linked to US hedge fund Cyrus Capital, with Thyme Opco since renamed as Flybe Limited.

It was based in Exeter but had a major presence at several other UK airports such as Aberdeen, Belfast City, Manchester and Southampton, and flew the most UK domestic routes between airports outside London.

The airline began as Jersey European Airways in 1979, operating regional flights from Jersey.

Its route network grew and it was re-branded British European in 2000, before becoming Flybe in 2002.

It flew to France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Switzerland, as well as the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey.