New routes and lower fares from Flybe

From today, passengers are set to benefit from lower fares, more routes and increased frequency on Flybe services as the airline announces the completion of its acquisition of BA Connect, the regional airline business of British Airways.

In addition to the launch of new routes and destinations, Flybe will take over many BA Connect routes with significant price savings of an average of £19 per passenger.

Flybe will become Europe’s largest regional airline with the creation of 11 new routes from Flybe’s regional bases:

• Manchester to Guernsey
• Manchester to Bergerac
• Manchester to Limoges
• Manchester to La Rochelle
• Southampton to Paris
• Southampton to Isle of Man
• Southampton to Frankfurt
• London Gatwick to Bergerac
• Cardiff to Paris
• Edinburgh to Rennes
• Guernsey to Norwich

The airline will also take over 20 of the routes currently operated by BA Connect and the acquisition will see Flybe continuing to offer convenient, low cost travel from the regions.

With 152 routes, operating from 22 UK and 34 European airports, Flybe will become Europe’s largest regional airline and will carry a higher proportion of business passengers with new routes to key commercial centres including Paris, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Milan.

This latest news confirms Flybe’s commitment to the regions with more growth, more flights and more investment.

Flybe plans to phase out all of the existing BA Connect fleet as soon as possible and fast-track completion of its £1.2bn investment programme in new Bombardier Q400 and Embraer 195 aircraft by 2009. Flybe will have a fleet of 82 aircraft, which will be one of the youngest and most environmentally sensitive fleets in the world. In line with its environment policy, Flybe will by then have reduced fuel consumption by over 50% per seat.

Says Mike Rutter, Chief Commercial Officer, Flybe: “Today’s announcement is great news for air travellers across the UK and Europe. Flybe’s passengers will now be able to benefit from the airline’s efficient and friendly service at a price which provides outstanding value on a wider selection of routes.

“Flybe remains firmly committed to serving the regions, and the acquisition now enables us to build a bigger and stronger airline which will allow us further opportunities to develop routes, encourage further business to the regions and see us go from strength to strength. Customers will now be able to turn to Flybe as their number one choice for domestic, European city and French regional flying.

“With minimal route overlap, integration will be seamless and passengers will soon be flying to 56 business and leisure destinations in new, more efficient and significantly more comfortable aircraft.”

New route lead in fares and booking details:

Manchester – Guernsey
• Flights will operate from 24th May
• Fares from £34.99 one way including taxes and charges

Manchester - Bergerac
• Flights will operate from 3rd May
• Fares from £39.99 one way including taxes and charges

London Gatwick - Bergerac
• Flights will operate from 12th May
• Fares from £42.99 one way including taxes and charges

Cardiff – Paris
• Flights will operate from 29th April
• Fares from £34.99 one way including taxes and charges

Southampton – Paris
• Flights will operate from 25th March
• Fares from £39.99 one way including taxes and charges

Southampton – Isle of Man
• Flights will operate from 25th March
• Fares from £36.99 one way including taxes and charges

Southampton – Frankfurt
• Flights will operate from 25th March
• Fares from £34.99 one way including taxes and charges

Edinburgh – Rennes
• Flights will operate from 26th May
• Fares from £47.99 one way including taxes and charges

Guernsey – Norwich
• Flights will operate from 25th March
• Fares from £44.99 one way including taxes and charges

Manchester – Limoges
• Flights will operate from 24th May
• Fares from £39.99 one way including taxes and charges

Manchester – La Rochelle
• Flights will operate from 22nd May
• Fares from £39.99 one way including taxes and charges

New Flybe routes previously operated by BA Connect with fares slashed
Birmingham – Aberdeen
• Flights will operate from 25th March
• Fares from £24.99 one way including taxes and charges

Birmingham – Paris
• Flights will operate from 25th March
• Fares from £39.99 one way including taxes and charges

Birmingham – Düsseldorf
• Flights will operate from 25th March
• Fares from £37.99 one way including taxes and charges

Birmingham – Frankfurt
• Flights will operate from 25th March
• Fares from £39.99 one way including taxes and charges

Birmingham – Hamburg
• Flights will operate from 25th March
• Fares from £37.99 one way including taxes and charges

Birmingham – Milan
• Flights will operate from 25th March
• Fares from £49.99 one way including taxes and charges

Birmingham – Stuttgart
• Flights will operate from 25th March
• Fares from £49.99 one way including taxes and charges

Manchester – Jersey (currently offered via Southampton)
• Flights will operate from 25th March
• Fares from £34.99 one way including taxes and charges

Edinburgh – Paris
• Flights will operate from 25th March
• Fares from £47.99 one way including taxes and charges

London Gatwick – Inverness
• Flights will operate from 25th March
• Fares from £34.99 one way including taxes and charges

London Gatwick – Isle of Man
• Flights will operate from 25th March
• Fares from £44.99 one way including taxes and charges

Manchester – Brussels
• Flights will operate from 25th March
• Fares from £44.99 one way including taxes and charges

Manchester – Paris
• Flights will operate from 25th March
• Fares from £35.99 one way including taxes and charges

Manchester – Dusseldorf
• Flights will operate from 25th March
• Fares from £39.99 one way including taxes and charges

Manchester – Edinburgh
• Flights will operate from 25th March
• Fares from £29.99 one way including taxes and charges

Manchester – Frankfurt
• Flights will operate from 25th March
• Fares from £39.99 one way including taxes and charges

Manchester – Glasgow
• Flights will operate from 25th March
• Fares from £29.99 one way including taxes and charges

Manchester – Hannover
• Flights will operate from 25th March
• Fares from £39.99 one way including taxes and charges

Manchester – Isle of Man
• Flights will operate from 25th March
• Fares from £36.99 one way including taxes and charges

Manchester – Milan
• Flights will operate from 25th March
• Fares from £49.99 one way including taxes and charges