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Flybe (2022)

Rising from the ashes in April 2022, the airline planned to operate 32 de Havilland Canada Dash 8 aircraft.

 

However, by January 2023, with a fleet of only nine, financial losses lead to the airline entering administration.

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Flybe

Renamed Flybe in 2002, the airline continued growing, and with the purchase of BA Connect, became the largest regional airline in Europe.

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The fleet was focused on the Bombardier Dash 8, operating almost 100 of them over two decades. The airline retired a variety of inherited types then introduced Embraers, including acting as the launch customer for the E195. 

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Flybe Nordic

Flybe Nordic was a joint venture airline set up by Finnair and Flybe in 2011. 

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The airline operated ATR and E170 aircraft before Flybe sold their shares to Finnair for a symbolic one Euro in 2014.

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British European

A short lived rebrand, British European operated from 2000 to 2002 before being adapted to Flybe. The name was intended to reflect better the scope of the routes operated beyond Jersey.

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During this period, the airline operated Dash 8s, BAe 146s and CRJ-100s, some on behalf of Air France.

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Jersey European Airways

Formed through the merger of Intra Airways and Express Air Services, Jersey European Airways. The airline started operating with Dakota DC-3s and Vickers Viscounts.

 

These were replaced with BAe 146s, a small fleet of Short 330s, Twin Otters and eventually Dash 8s.

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Intra Airways

Founded in 1969, Intra Airways operated passenger and cargo charters, initially with a single DC-3.

 

Ten years later when the airline merged with Express Air Services, the airline had a fleet of seven Dakotas and three Viscounts.

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Express Air Services

Merged with Intra Airways in 1979 to form Jersey European Airways. This airline was based at Bournemouth with a fleet of Handley Page Heralds.

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The airline demerged in 1983 to form Channel Express, that later became Jet2.

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BA Connect

Renamed in 2002, British Airways CitiExpress amalgamated all of British Airways' regional subsidiaries under one airline. This airline operated Embraer 145s, BAe 146s, Dash 8s as well as older ATPs and Jetstreams.

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In 2006, the airline was again renamed to BA Connect and was reduced to a low cost operating model with a buy on board programme.

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The airline operated a variety of aircraft with the majority transferred to Flybe during the 2007 merger. Adding the EMB-145 and Dash 8s to Flybe's fleet led to Flybe being Europe's largest regional airline. The Avro RJ100s remained along with the London City Base to form BA CityFlyer.

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British Airways became a shareholder in Flybe due to this takeover and had to pay Flybe to take on the loss making airline due to the impact it would have on Flybe's profits.

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Brymon Airways

Brymon Airways was formed in the early 1970s operating Twin Otters out of Plymouth.

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Later in its existence, it operated Dash 7 aircraft, the first airline to operate them in the UK. Brymon landed one of these aircraft at Heron Quays in London in 1982 to prove the viability of London City Airport and was the first airline to operate there in 1987.

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In 1984, British Airways acquired a minority share in the company before purchasing it outright in 1992. The airline started operating Bombardier Dash 8s and Embraer ERJ-145s on behalf of British Airways.

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After merging with Manx Airlines, the airline was renamed BA CitiExpress.

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Birmingham European Airways

Birmingham European Airways started operations with three Jetstreams in 1983.

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A single Saab 340 was introduced in 1985 but was replaced quickly by Gulfstream I's. Finally the airline operated BAC 1-11s.

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At the end of 1992, the airline merged with Brymon to form Brymon European Airways before being demerged six months later and sold to Maersk.

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Manx Airlines

Manx Airlines, based in the Isle of Man, started operations in 1982 with an EMB 110 Banderiante operating to Glasgow.

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For the next five years, the fleet consisted of Short 330/360 and Vickers Viscount with a Saab 340 leased in to fly to Heathrow. 

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Fleet renewal led to Jetstreams, ATP and BAe146 aircraft joining the fleet.

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In 2002, Manx's fleet was integrated into BA CitiExpress.

 

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Spacegrand Aviation

Spacegrand Aviation was a small airline that offered charter and regular services utilising mostly Twin Otters from the late 1980s until it was merged into Jersey European Airways.

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Franchises

From 2007 until the demise of the original Flybe, the airline operated a franchise system with partner airlines.

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This started with Loganair, fresh from a British Airways franchise, operating services around Scotland. This added Saab 340 and 2000s as well as Suckling Airways' Dornier 328s to the Flybe family.

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This partnership ended acrimoniously a decade later with Loganair branching out on its own and replaced by Eastern Airways with Jetstreams and ATRs.

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Midway through the 2010s, Stobart Air and Blue Islands would add further ATRs to the franchised Flybe fleet.

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Wet Leases

Throughout its existence, and its predecessor airlines, Flybe has operated aircraft on behalf of other airlines under wet lease arrangements.

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The airline has operated Dash 8s on behalf of airlines including Brussels Airlines and Olympic Airlines. Predecessors operated BAe 146s on behalf of airlines such as Air France.

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At times the airlines have also hired in aircraft under wet lease agreements. These have included from CityJet, Astraeus Airlines, Marathon Airlines, Carpatair and Stobart Air.

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