flybe Aquires BA Connect!

What must employees or ex-employees of the likes of Brymon & Cityflyer Exp think of the recent announcement?

2 good independent airlines who made the mistake of becoming BA franchisees, then shafted by BA.

They could still have been operating today but for BA’s meddling.

Well done BA…………………..NOT. 😡

As a regular traveller, I was shocked to hear of flyBe’s acquisition of BACon. When I first began flying regularly in the mid to late 90s, it now seems strange to think that 90% of the time I flew with BA or a BA franchise / subsidiary. These days I fly more often than ever before (c.70 flights a year) and yet the last time I flew with BA was 18 months ago.

I can also recall around 5 years back flying across on a CRJ200 from LBA to BHD on (what was then) British European, sat beside one of the airline’s top brass who admitted that he was sure there was an answer to British European’s woes, but he was beggared if he or anyone else knew what it was.

If someone was to suggest five years hence that British European would have acquired BA’s regional interests, I think they either would have been drunk or deluded.

flyBE has certainly put in a strong performance over recent years within its chosen niche. And it is an airline I enjoy travelling with. Staff are friendly and courteous and the Q400 and BAe146s make for a pleasant change from the 737 and A319/320 norm. But in the admitted absence of knowing just what flyBE paid for BACon, I can’t help but wonder if they’ve bitten off more than they can chew?

The much vaunted BACon ‘comeback’ on the BHD-BHX route prove that BACon are little threat to flyBE, just as BACon’s continued downsizing of aircraft from BAe146s to Dash8-200s on the MAN-BHD route prove the appeal of flyBE’s business model over BAcon’s. So in essence, organic growth probably would have taken to where they want to be, without the hassle of losing an entire fleet, integrating staff with very different corporate cultures, managing redundancies and figuring out what to do with inhereited liabilities.

I also think it is worth remembering that in the mid90s, British Regional Airlines was on the up, in a similar way in which flyBE is today. A decade later and it’s history. And that would be my concern with flyBE. Just how robust is the flyBE business model?

BHD-LPL certainly prove that they can’t cut the mustard on regional routes when it comes to mixing it with easyJet. So too BHD-BRS, which is now down to a single flight a day. So too BHD-STN which was pulled shortly after Go launched BFS-STN.

To my mind flyBE’s success is based upon commercialising regional routes, which as a result of flyBE’s efforts will become a target for easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2 or whoever, with lower costbases, jet fleets, even better brand awareness and lower fares. And unless and until flyBE strengthens (recofnfigures?) its business model, where does it go after that?

Regards

John

True Blue, congratulations for cutting and pasting your posts on PPrune on to this forum! Flybe are not alone in hyping up new routes just look at the trash press releases that both Easyjet and Ryanair and now Jet 2 issue – in fact, Jet 2 now have the audacity to call themselves “Belfast’s Low Cost Airline” when they don’t even operate from anywhere near Belfast!. When do you ever see any airline actively publicise dropping a route – the aforementioned airlines have all dropped routes without notice and seldom give a valid reason for doing so – remember the Jet2 fiasco over BFS – ORK and BOH a while back?

What is the problem with Flybe saying they will increase MAN frequencies? Would this not be a natural thing to do since BA Connect will be no more? I would say that WW would need to start worrying at BFS!

No, the natural thing to do is to cut capacity, increase fares and actually start making some money. There is massive over capacity between Northern Ireland and the North West of England. Something was always going to give and here we are. And what’s with the BHD vs BFS garbage? What next I wonder, people feuding over North Terminal vs South Terminal at Gatwick????

I think Flybe, more than any other, is always trying to put this great spin on their news to make it seem much better than it really is.Everywhere is a base. Every time they announce a new route at Bhd, same old story, further expansion etc, never do they say but we have dropped this route or that.
It won’t be long before they are out of Ncl and Lba just like Brs at Bhd. More rubbish quotes from flybe in the Belfast Tele tonight, the takeover of bacon gives them the opportunity to consider large increases in frequencies on routes, like Bhd – Man, up to about 10 a day. What they don’t say is that 10 a day is about the current frequency between Flybe and Ba. More of the same rubbish that they used to spout about their position on the Ncl – bhd route, major player and all that. A quick check tonight on prices to Galway and doncaster tells me that you will see them go the same way as Nwi and Lpl. Is’nt it great to be so selective with the facts.

True Blue, congratulations for cutting and pasting your posts on PPrune on to this forum! Flybe are not alone in hyping up new routes just look at the trash press releases that both Easyjet and Ryanair and now Jet 2 issue – in fact, Jet 2 now have the audacity to call themselves “Belfast’s Low Cost Airline” when they don’t even operate from anywhere near Belfast!. When do you ever see any airline actively publicise dropping a route – the aforementioned airlines have all dropped routes without notice and seldom give a valid reason for doing so – remember the Jet2 fiasco over BFS – ORK and BOH a while back?

What is the problem with Flybe saying they will increase MAN frequencies? Would this not be a natural thing to do since BA Connect will be no more? I would say that WW would need to start worrying at BFS!

I think Flybe, more than any other, is always trying to put this great spin on their news to make it seem much better than it really is.Everywhere is a base. Every time they announce a new route at Bhd, same old story, further expansion etc, never do they say but we have dropped this route or that.
It won’t be long before they are out of Ncl and Lba just like Brs at Bhd. More rubbish quotes from flybe in the Belfast Tele tonight, the takeover of bacon gives them the opportunity to consider large increases in frequencies on routes, like Bhd – Man, up to about 10 a day. What they don’t say is that 10 a day is about the current frequency between Flybe and Ba. More of the same rubbish that they used to spout about their position on the Ncl – bhd route, major player and all that. A quick check tonight on prices to Galway and doncaster tells me that you will see them go the same way as Nwi and Lpl. Is’nt it great to be so selective with the facts.

Meant to add i’m surprised they are not keeping INV/LGW and returning it to mainline i’ve boon on those services a lot over the past 9 months and they are always quite busy, also one of the few BACON flights I have taken and seen them actually sell a lot food & drink

BA will need to keep some of the RJ100’s (in the meantime at least), I don’t fancy seeing the trying to land a 737 or domestic equivalent at LCY

Very interesting news. I wish them luck if it all goes through:):):)

Does this mean BA will become the largest “regional” airline in Britain ? :diablo:

“Yeah I know but for a good few years there would slowly replace them but now they have shortly it.”

Good God It’s Yoda!

Reagrds,

kev35

It said on teletext that they are selling BACON due to what happened in Ausgust. :confused:

is that true?

James

I’m actually glad at this proposal. BA really don’t give a hoot about anywhere (bar LHR/LGW). Good riddence to them. I welcome more BE flights from MAN and good luck to them, will be nice to see more of them around!:D

Quite surprising news, but at least now we have a regional airline that seems to be commited to the regions, rather than BA who never seemed that interested!

They were on there way out any way mate.

Good for flybe, Flybe are after all a business mans airline and there merely takng over the competition.

Yeah I know but for a good few years there would slowly replace them but now they have shortly it.

James

Farewell Flybe’s BAe 146 fleet

They were on there way out any way mate.

Good for flybe, Flybe are after all a business mans airline and there merely takng over the competition.

Says they will oust the ERJ, DH8 and 146, and replace them with 195’s and Q400’s

Wonder if flybe will move into T3 at MAN too?

I am sort off glad that its not Flybe going but not so good that BACON are going. What will happen to BACON fleet will they be sold to BA?

Farewell Flybe’s BAe 146 fleet

James

Wow…Looks like BHX will become Q400 and Embraer 195 city!!!!

Sorry but thats what it said in my email :p

But its a bit ovbious it probably will go ahead, Mainline have been trying to get rid of BACX/BACON for some time

OMG! I am really shocked at this. BA cONNECT IS NO MORE?

What do guys think?

Carefull. The opening paragraph clearly staes:

‘Flybe announces that it has reached agreement in principle with British Airways whereby it will acquire British Airways’ BA Connect regional airline business, [B] subject to a number of conditions[/B] precedent including the completion of due diligence’

It is NOT a done deal yet, and as such the thread title is a little missleading.