[RCinBelper]

It won’t be for me. I have gone full-on Greta. Sold my car (the last year I had it I only did 30 miles), given up flying within Europe (just come off the ferry from Hoek van Holland last night), walk, cycle and bus for local journeys, train for long-distance.

The furthest I have been this month is Budapest. One result is I have gone from 99 to 76kg, my diabetes has gone and my (previously sky high) blood pressure “is that of a 20 year old” (quote: my cancer specialist). RC

[Poshgirl58]

G-JECX now returned to EXT after paying a flying visit (sorry!) to BHX.

Rumoured to be operating training flights at LBA tomorrow.

And the recently announced collaboration between Aurigny, Blue Islands and Loganair has reduced the opportunities still further…

[AMcWhirter]

Today I hear from a reliable source that Flybe is preparing to place its initial routes on sale from March 22.

No details are available yet but I understand its bases will be Belfast City and Birmingham.

Our most recent piece dates from November 2021.

Flybe returns with Birmingham airport as new headquarters

[Poshgirl58]

Yes, that’s right. Local media (Birmingham Mail) carrying story.

Plenty of route speculation on an “aviation interest” forum, including BHD-LBA-LHR, based on the recent training flights. CWL and BRS thrown into the mix for the same reason. BHX and BHD are only two bases announced. Other speculation is German routes ex BHX (HAN, STR) may also be resurrected.

Cabin crew recruitment campaign closes 31 March, so still need time for training, although they’ve asked for experienced only applicants.

1 user thanked author for this post.

AMcWhirter

[Poshgirl58]

New routes announced today.

Bases confirmed as BHX and BHD. Routes are a mixture of correct predictions, some surprises and a few disappointments depending on your perspective.

The highlights are:

LBA-LHR as a standalone route, not linked to BHD. NQY has gone across the network, no GCI or JER either. CWL doesn’t feature at all. BHD 12 routes incl AMS. BHX 7 incl AMS, AGN and BES (both seasonal). LHR-AMS seems a strange one unless it’s in the mix for a future codeshare. No LHR flights from Scotland. Many routes will be a head-to-head with Emerald notably BHD-BHX.

In the release statement, Flybe announced there were more routes to come. Some of those released today start mid-April, others May, with the seasonal ones available from July.

More info on Flybe’s website flybe.com

[AMcWhirter]

Thanks for posting Poshgirl58.

I have spent the past couple of hours writing an analysis of today’s news.

Just waiting for the Team to post it online.

2 users thanked author for this post.

Poshgirl58, tomwjsimpson

[Poshgirl58]

Alex, have just read your analysis and agree with your comments.

There’s already opinion on another forum that fares are too high. BHX-AVG the given example, at £250 return. No dates given. The question also asked as to why Flybe are serving both Avignon and Brest given their close proximity. Conversely, I understand that many celebrated the return of LBA-LHR by booking at least a day trip, taking advantage of yesterday’s £10 off a one-way fare.

Must quell the excitement of something returning in the aviation world!

[AMcWhirter]

[quote quote=1206945]Alex, have just read your analysis and agree with your comments.[/quote]

Thank you Poshgirl58. Much appreciated.

When it comes to France surely Brest and Avignon are many miles from one another so no conflict.

Yes BHX-AVG is too high at £250 but when loads settle down one might hope for a price adjustment.

On the other hand one could argue that Flybe is pricing for convenience and of course Eurostar will not be operating its South of France service in 2022.

Of course there will be some point-to-point travellers taking the LBA-LHR flight … especially those with meetings etc to the West of the capital.

But for anyone bound for Central London I would have thought LNER (operating every 30 mins on this route, journey time around 2 hrs 13 mins) would be the obvious choice.

[AMcWhirter]

I thought I ought to readers the latest situation at Flybe.

Today comes news that many Scottish flights are being suspended.

Ostensibly the reason is “late delivery of aircraft.”

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/flybe-cancels-dozens-of-flights-on-edinburgh-glasgow-aberdeen-and-inverness-routes-over-two-months-3758617

[SimonS1]

Unfortunately Leopards don’t change their spots.

[sandiego1]

It appears LBA/LHR is reduced from 3 flights a day to one, almost certainly a precursor to closing the route. The aircraft that have yet to be delivered have been stored in Germany for the last 2 years and it suggested that they need a lot of work to bring them back up to flying mode, either that or they can’t afford the lease fees?

[Author]

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