Flybe cancels all jet flights from Cardiff, Doncaster, Exeter and Norwich
FLYBE is cancelling all jet flights from Cardiff, Doncaster, Exeter and Norwich.
It follows the announcement on Wednesday morning that the airline has cancelled 27 flights across the UK, which the airline says is not related.
In a statement, the airline said that the cancellations were part of its strategy to reduce its aircraft fleet.
All of its 118-seater Embraer 195 aircraft will be returned, with some by the end of this year.
However, the airline will continue to operate the routes using their 78-seater Bombardier Q-400 planes.
It would mean 40 fewer seats on each flight.
The routes affected:
Exeter - Flybe will stop jet operations from the start of the 2019-20 winter programme. The last jet flights will operate on Saturday October 26, 2019. This will not impact the Q400 operated schedule out of Exeter, nor the existing base structure.
Norwich – as with Exeter, Flybe will cease jet operations from the start of the 2019-20 winter programme. This will not affect services at Norwich operated by Flybe’s franchise partner, Eastern Airways.
Cardiff & Doncaster – Flybe will cease jet operations out of these airports with effect from the start of the 2019-20 winter programme. Flybe currently has a base at both airports to service its jet services. Once the jet flights stop, Flybe will close these bases, but will continue to offer flights to and from both Cardiff and Doncaster on Q400, with aircraft and crew flying from other bases.
Flybe CEO, Christine Ourmières-Widener said: “Our fleet reduction has always been core to improving our profitability.
"We are committed to assisting all our affected employees across the impacted Flybe bases.
"We remain fully committed to Exeter, Cardiff and Doncaster airports and will continue to offer a comprehensive choice of regional and European destinations operated by our 78-seat Bombardier Q400 aircraft”
This morning, Flybe cancelled a number of flights across the UK.
Hundreds of furious passengers were affected by the cancellations.
A Flybe spokesperson told Sun Online Travel on Wednesday: "Flybe sincerely apologises to all our customers and partners affected by the current flight cancellations.
"Whilst 95 per cent of Flybe flights are operating as per normal, we do recognise the impact of today’s cancellations.
"We are doing our best to mitigate the impact of the current situation that has arisen due to a combination of factors including seasonality, pilots’ end of leave year, Easter holidays, base restructuring and the shortage of pilots across the industry that Flybe has highlighted over recent months.
"We have already identified several mitigation actions and will be issuing further updates throughout the day.
"All those affected have been emailed and advised they can re-book for travel on an alternative flight or apply for a full refund.
"Customers are advised to regularly check our website for more details."
Full list of cancelled Flybe flights in the UK
- BE321 Aberdeen 07:00 Birmingham
- BE153 Aberdeen 11:10 Belfast City
- BE361 Belfast City 07:15 Nottingham
- BE361 Belfast City 07:15 Nottingham
- BE403 Belfast City 08:40 Birmingham
- BE403 Belfast City 08:40 Birmingham
- BE403 Belfast City 08:40 Birmingham
- BE400 Birmingham 06:45 Belfast City
- BE322 Birmingham 09:15 Aberdeen
- BE1843 Birmingham 10:10 Bordeaux
- BE846 Birmingham 12:40 Edinburgh
- BE4583 Cardiff 14:10 Verona
- BE761 Edinburgh 07:20 Southampton
- BE292 Edinburgh 10:20 Manchester
- BE292 Edinburgh 10:20 Manchester
- BE122 Glasgow 07:15 Belfast City
- BE553 Glasgow 10:45 Nottingham
- BE732 Leeds Bradford 12:00 Belfast City
- BE6024 London Southend 18:30 Rennes St Jacques
- BE293 Manchester 12:15 Edinburgh
- BE142 Newcastle 08:40 Southampton
- BE362 Nottingham 08:45 Belfast City
- BE554 Nottingham 12:20 Glasgow
- BE141 Southampton 07:00 Newcastle
- BE762 Southampton 09:20 Edinburgh
- BE1013 Southampton 10:35 Amsterdam Schiphol
- BE1897 Southampton 17:55 Dusseldorf
Furious passengers have taken to Twitter to complain.
One social media user listed a number of delayed and cancelled flights before tweeting: "Very much doubt I will be using Flybe again."
Another remarked: "@flybe all these flights cancelled due to 'operational reasons'. ??!! Somebody has made a massive cockup haven't they?
"Who from senior management will take responsibility? Probably no-one. Yet massive disruption to customers and massive compensation payouts."
A similar incident in 2017 saw Ryanair cancel hundreds of flights after "messing up pilots holidays".
Which? spokesperson Rory Boland said: "Thousands of people will understandably be frustrated to have their travel plans thrown into chaos by these last-minute cancellations - and the lack of clear information provided by Flybe was completely unacceptable.
"All passengers affected by these cancellations are entitled to a full refund or to be rerouted on to another flight to their intended destination - and to over £200 compensation under European air travel rules."
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