Not even a year has passed since the first flight of the "new Flybe" and already one is broke and had to stop flight operations. According to the company, 276 jobs are about to disappear. For financial reasons, nothing can be done for affected passengers.

The regional airline Flybe had to give up flight operations and file for bankruptcy on March 4, 2020, i.e. immediately before the start of the corona pandemic in Europe. The current company was founded as a successor company. An investment company bought some assets from the bankruptcy estate and wanted to build on the former success of the British regional carrier. From the beginning there were numerous problems that led to delays and were not related to the corona pandemic.

Only recently the "new Flybe" announced additional routes, but nothing will come of it. The carrier states succinctly: "Flybe has now ceased operations and all flights to and from the UK operated by Flybe have been canceled and will not be rescheduled". To put it simply: You are finished and don't assume that you will ever take off again.

According to preliminary information, around 75.000 passengers are affected by the fact that tickets that have already been paid for can no longer be used. Flybe can no longer provide substitute transportation for financial reasons. Competitors such as Easyjet have launched special rescue tariffs. Air passengers have now become bankruptcy creditors, but if an airline goes bankrupt, you get back a very small quota at best.

Most recently, the Flybe fleet consisted of eight de Havilland Dash 8-400s. These were leased from various lessors. Thus, there was no aircraft ownership, which could have a negative impact from the creditor's point of view in the insolvency proceedings. The route network consisted of 21 routes to 17 destinations in the United Kingdom and the European Union.

Interpath's David Pike and Mike Pink have been appointed equal trustees of Flybe. They first have to get an overview, but potential buyers are already being asked to contact the law firm. During a very short phase, there would be the possibility that flight operations could be reactivated with fresh money. Apart from 321 people, the 45 Flybe employees have already received their resignations. Regarding the causes of the bankruptcy, David Pike said, among other things, that the late handover of a total of 17 de Havilland Dash 8-400s had a negative impact, but is most likely not the sole cause.

"It's always sad when an airline goes bankrupt and we know Flybe's decision to halt operations will be deeply painful for all employees and customers," said Paul Smith, CAA's director of consumer affairs.