Flybe welcomes the sale of Exeter airport!

Flybe, one of Europe’s leading low cost airlines, welcomes the sale of Exeter Airport to the Regional City Airports (RCA) and Balfour Beatty consortium, following the announcement in October that the private sector syndicate were preferred bidder for the airport.

Over the last few months, Flybe has been involved in long discussions with RCA to reach an agreement to secure the long term future of the airline at the South West base and protect Flybe’s headquarters, base maintenance and flying operations at Exeter International airport.

Since it first set up its headquarters at Exeter airport, Flybe has been the main driver of success and growth at the base, providing people in the South West with accessible and low cost travel direct from their doorstep and taking over 39.6 million car miles of the roads.

As a dominant business in the South West, providing a comprehensive route network to people across the UK and Europe, Flybe has also helped to strengthen the local economy and promote inbound tourism. The new agreement with RCA underpins the airline’s commitment to the airport for the foreseeable future with plans in place to create a larger and more comprehensive maintenance centre and a new training centre at the airport.

Both RCA and Flybe share a vision for the future of the South West base which involves strengthening operations and ensuring better value for money to make certain that Exeter becomes the natural airport of choice for the region. Flybe looks forward to working with RCA to turn this vision to become a reality.

Mike Rutter Chief Commercial Officer of Flybe comments: “'Flybe is pleased that Exeter Airport has finally been sold to the private sector. Flybe has worked closely with the RCA since it was announced as preferred bidder to reach a long term agreement to secure Flybe's headquarters, base maintenance and flying operations at Exeter.

“I am pleased to announce that this deal has now been reached and we look forward to working with the RCA to sympathetically grow Exeter Airport to meet the needs of the burgeoning South West economy. This deal between Flybe and the RCA secures 1,000 direct jobs at the airport, another 500 in-direct jobs, and ensures that Flybe's expected growth, post its proposed acquisition of BA Connect, will take place at Exeter.”