Flybe axes Frankfurt routes
Published: 20/06/2011 - Filed under: News »
Budget carrier Flybe will no longer ply the important business routes linking Birmingham and Manchester with Frankfurt from the end of next month.
These services are operated in conjunction with British Airways and previously formed part of the latter’s regional network. Currently Flybe operates to Frankfurt up to twice daily out of Birmingham and up to three times a day out of Manchester.
Staff at the carrier’s reservations office confirmed to Business Traveller that flights out of both Birmingham and Manchester would cease on July 24. And in an official statement Flybe said:
"'After reviewing the future of these routes for many months, Flybe has taken the difficult decision to cancel services to Frankfurt from both Birmingham and Manchester. The final flights will operate on Sunday 24th July 2011. Passengers booked between now and July 24th will be contacted over the next few weeks to offer them re-accommodation."
Inventory for the flights in question after the above dates has now been removed from both flybe.com and ba.com. It means that Lufthansa and its partner Bmi will enjoy a monopoly on the routes in question.
So what went wrong? For starters Flybe’s slower Dash 8-400 turbo-props were having to compete with the faster Boeings and Airbus jets operated by Lufthansa/Bmi. And the latter’s scheduling probably suited business people more than that of Flybe.
Because Flybe does not ‘night stop’ its planes in Germany it meant the carrier’s first Frankfurt-Manchester service of the day did not operate before 1100 whereas Lufthansa offered an earlier 0730 flight. Likewise, Flybe’s last Birmingham-Frankfurt service was rather early at 1550 compared with Lufthansa’s convenient later departure at 1840.
But perhaps the most priceless advantage enjoyed by Lufthansa was the fact it was serving its hub. It meant a large number of passengers on this route were flying the German national airline in order to make connections at Frankfurt.
For more information visit flybe.com, ba.com.
Report by Alex McWhirter
Read more about...
Bookmark with:
ADD A COMMENT »
The big picture: BA’s Jubilee jumbo 28/05/2012
British Airways has painted one of its B747 aircraft with an emblem and message as part of its celebrations to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee — full story »
Hong Kong Airport takes step closer to third runway 28/05/2012
The Airport Authority of Hong Kong has submitted its project profile for a third runway, the start of a two-year Environmental Impact Assessment — full story »
Travelodge adds two Edinburgh properties 28/05/2012
The budget hotel group has opened hotels on Edinburgh’s Queen Street and Princes Street, the latter being a partnership with high street retailer Topshop — full story »
