My word this has been one dragged out deal!!
http://www.flybe.com/news/0703/02.htm
Completion of acquisition by Flybe of BA connect.
05 March 2007
Flybe announces that it has completed the acquisition of BA Connect, the regional airline business of British Airways.
Flybe’s acquisition of BA Connect (which does not include BA Connect’s London City or Manchester / JFK routes) creates a business with over £500m in revenues and which will fly nearly 10 million passengers once the transition is complete. The airline will operate 152 routes, flying from 22 UK and 34 European airports with new routes to key European commercial centres including Paris, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Milan. Through the merger of these two networks, Flybe will become Europe’s largest regional airline with a network that has a unique balance between business and leisure passengers.Flybe plans to increase its current commitment to invest $1.2bn in new aircraft to over $2Billion by increasing the fleet to over 80 Bombardier Q400 and Embraer 195 aircraft by 2010. Flybe plans to retire the BA Connect fleet of 50 seat jet aircraft as soon as possible to drive maximum fleet efficiency. Flybe will have 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.
The deal has been structured to ensure Flybe is protected financially during the transition period with sufficient funding to cover the inefficiencies of operating 50 seat jets and a degree of protection over future values of these aircraft until they are retired. To achieve this BA is providing Flybe with cash funding of £96m.
Additionally BA is providing Flybe with Commercial support by entering into a one way codeshare agreement on all previous BA Connect routes, allowing for a smooth consumer transition to the Flybe brand.
As part of this acquisition, British Airways will receive a 15% interest in Flybe.
The immediate priority for Flybe will be to ensure that the transition is managed effectively and once this has been achieved, it remains the Groups intention to seek an IPO at the appropriate time.
Commenting on the acquisition, Jim French, Chairman and Chief Executive of Flybe, said:
“This is a proud day for Flybe, now Europe’s largest regional airline. The acquisition of BA Connect gives us critical mass across our domestic and European city markets and, with valuable slots at congested European airports, brings our growth plans forward by two years. Flybe is now firmly established as one of the UK’s largest airlines.
“Flybe is above all a regional airline and the new routes this acquisition brings to our network reinforces our commitment to serving the whole of the UK. We are playing our part in supporting the regional economies of the UK in line with the Government’s own ambitions.
“This is fantastic news for air travellers across the UK and Europe where more consumers will now be able to benefit from Flybe’s efficient and friendly service, all at a price which provides outstanding value. Millions of BA Connect travellers will now benefit from increased service and frequency at substantially lower prices whilst flying on the most environmentally friendly aircraft available in the Regional Air Travel maket..
Flybe will employ over 3500 staff in the new combined business. We are confident the new airline will offer exciting and continued career opportunities. During the last four months Flybe has worked closely with all Unions and Staff Associations to ensure that all staff would be working on the same terms and conditions from the commencement of the new, combined business.
We are all looking forward to working together to ensure Flybe will be a success.
Now give me the schedules!!!
By: Manston Airport - 8th March 2007 at 16:13
Are Eastern Airways looking into buying BA BAe 146 fleet?
Got it from pprune 😮 :rolleyes:
James
By: paulc - 7th March 2007 at 15:59
Have seen the timings for Eastleigh (SOU) – Frankfurt – with only 1 rotation per day during late afternoon (4.55pm departure) this will not really attract any business traffic unless you want to stay 1 night. To be a successful business route it must have an early AM departure with an evening return to allow business people the chance of a day trip.
Paris timings are ok with early out and late back and will be in direct competition with Air France.
By: Manston Airport - 7th March 2007 at 13:04
Cool Thanks 1L:cool: I dont think MAN would work like you say VLM do that route. Wonder what other routes they are looking into.
James
By: OneLeft - 7th March 2007 at 11:16
What routes will this airline fly from LCY?
EDI, FRA, MAD and MXP at the moment, with GLA and ZRH starting at the end of March. More routes are under consideration with MAN tipped as the next, although I would think VLM would be hard to crack on that one.
Thanks 1L, the confusion is understandable…
Absolutely, given the similarity in the names, and the rate at which BA keep rearranging things.
1L.
By: Ren Frew - 7th March 2007 at 00:52
There has always been a bit of confusion on this board regarding CityFlyer and CitiExpress. With apologies to those who know which is which, let me explain.
CityFlyer Express was an independant airline based at LGW, which saw it’s roots go back through Euroworld, Air Europe Express and Guernsey Airlines. It became a BA franchise, was in due course bought by BA, and became part of what is now the BA operation at LGW. It’s ATR aircraft were used by BA at LGW for a short time before being disposed of, and it’s RJ100s became part on the BA CitiExpress fleet which later became BA Connect.
The London City flights and the 10 RJ100 aircraft that BA Connect operated are not part of the FlyBE deal and are to be retained by BA. A new subsidiary has been formed to operate these flights with bases at LCY and EDI. As the CityFlyer Express name was still owned by BA and was appropriate (perhaps moreso than to the original airline to use it) the name BA CityFlyer has been given to the new operation.
To clarify, BA CitiExpress was the BA regional subsidiary airline formed by the merger of British Airways Regional, British Regional Airlines, Manx Airlines and Brymon Airways. This effectively operated as a BA franchise before going down the no-frills route and becoming BA Connect, which has in turn now been sold to FlyBE.
1L.
Thanks 1L, the confusion is understandable…
By: Manston Airport - 6th March 2007 at 23:20
Thank you 1L for Information good to see BA Cityflyer Having its 10 RJ100 back:cool: What routes will this airline fly from LCY?
James
By: OneLeft - 6th March 2007 at 21:48
BA Cityflyer Was that Not BA airline some years back.
There has always been a bit of confusion on this board regarding CityFlyer Express and CitiExpress. With apologies to those who know which is which, let me explain.
CityFlyer Express was an independant airline based at LGW, which saw it’s roots go back through Euroworld, Air Europe Express and Guernsey Airlines. It became a BA franchise, was in due course bought by BA, and became part of what is now the BA operation at LGW. It’s ATR aircraft were used by BA at LGW for a short time before being disposed of, and it’s RJ100s became part on the BA CitiExpress fleet which later became BA Connect.
The London City flights and the 10 RJ100 aircraft that BA Connect operated are not part of the FlyBE deal and are to be retained by BA. A new subsidiary has been formed to operate these flights with bases at LCY and EDI. As the CityFlyer Express name was still owned by BA and was appropriate (perhaps moreso than to the original airline to use it) the name BA CityFlyer has been given to the new operation.
To clarify, BA CitiExpress was the BA regional subsidiary airline formed by the merger of British Airways Regional, British Regional Airlines, Manx Airlines and Brymon Airways. This effectively operated as a BA franchise before going down the no-frills route and becoming BA Connect, which has in turn now been sold to FlyBE.
1L.
By: Si Jones - 6th March 2007 at 17:36
Sorry BRS Guys!
http://nextgenerationairline.com/pdf/brs.pdf
Confirmed closure of the BRS operation. All routes except JER to be dropped. All the best to those affected.
Saw it on the news earlier today. BACON also handle Air Southwest and SN Brussels at BRS so they will be looking for a new agent also.
By: mmemovements - 6th March 2007 at 16:43
BA Citiexpress was the name a few years ago…
And before that a lot of LGW flights were run by Cityflyer Express (with ATR42/72 and ARJ-100’s) such as NCL.
By: bmi-star - 6th March 2007 at 11:18
Sorry BRS Guys!
http://nextgenerationairline.com/pdf/brs.pdf
Confirmed closure of the BRS operation. All routes except JER to be dropped. All the best to those affected.
By: Si Jones - 6th March 2007 at 11:15
I believe that some of the BRS routes (EDI, GLA, DUS, FRA, CDG, JER) will be kept if you look at the updated route map they are still showing just not yet announced.
Good to see the deal finally done, and a new route from EDI -on top of the already announced Bergerac- although no news on it’s frequency yet, however with HAM lost there’s no gain really.
Thanks for that RIP, It was announced on the local TV station that the only routes to be dropped from Bristol would be Milan, Zurich and Munich, good news, however the BACON staff were pretty angry that they heard about it first from the press! Has anyone noticed if the BACON aircraft are sporting any FLYBE markings now that the take over is complete.
Si
By: Ren Frew - 6th March 2007 at 11:15
It says they are :confused: BA Cityflyer Was that Not BA airline some years back.
James
BA Citiexpress was the name a few years ago…
By: N.P.Vibert - 6th March 2007 at 07:27
Is the Bacon over cooked?
Should some of the route say taken over the ex BAcon routes and no say new routes for Flybe?
What about the old BAcon routes they have dropped should this be showen as well on where they have done the dirty that would paint another picture in the life and times of Flybe.
Will they be able to cope with the late arrivals of the EMB195 aircraft and the flybe getting rid of the Dash 300s and EMB145 it does paint a very nice picture for the next few months at least.
By: Manston Airport - 6th March 2007 at 01:12
I believe that some of the BRS routes (EDI, GLA, DUS, FRA, CDG, JER) will be kept if you look at the updated route map they are still showing just not yet announced.
.
It says they are
All BA codeshare destinations
are shown in red
:confused: BA Cityflyer Was that Not BA airline some years back.
James
By: RIPConcorde - 5th March 2007 at 23:25
Damm that’s frustrating, looks like Easyjet (Bristol) will be rubbing their hands today!
Si
I believe that some of the BRS routes (EDI, GLA, DUS, FRA, CDG, JER) will be kept if you look at the updated route map they are still showing just not yet announced.
Good to see the deal finally done, and a new route from EDI -on top of the already announced Bergerac- although no news on it’s frequency yet, however with HAM lost there’s no gain really.
By: OneLeft - 5th March 2007 at 20:45
potentially Swiss European and Lufthansa Regional could take some of the RJ100s?
They are being retained by BA for use by the new EDI and LCY based subsidiary BA Cityflyer.
speculating that once BA decide the GAtwick operation is unprofitable BA will effectivly become Heathrow Airways
I would think that is not an unreasonable expectation.
1L.
By: airportsexpress - 5th March 2007 at 18:44
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6418391.stm
Looking at the passenger comments it seems that routes that were previously quite busy have now been axed.
All in all its another wonderful piece of public relations by British Airways with some people particualrly in the Birmingham area being told they can fly from Heathrow or be refunded in full with the passenger thereby incuring extra expense just to get to Heathrow and with no compensation for this.
Infact some on the BBC forum have begun refering to BA as London Airways and have begun speculating that once BA decide the GAtwick operation is unprofitable BA will effectivly become Heathrow Airways
By: Ren Frew - 5th March 2007 at 13:21
Q&A going on here….
By: Future Pilot - 5th March 2007 at 12:34
Ah but it’s all just business isn’t it ? 😉
Start the arguing……sorry, debate 😉 now people :dev2:.
“Flybe plans to increase its current commitment to invest $1.2bn in new aircraft to over $2Billion by increasing the fleet to over 80 Bombardier Q400 and Embraer 195 aircraft by 2010. Flybe plans to retire the BA Connect fleet of 50 seat jet aircraft as soon as possible to drive maximum fleet efficiency.”
So does this mean they intend on keeping the BACON Dash 8’s for longer? or is this just a typo in the press release? with the small amount of Dash 8’s they have in comparison with the ERJ-145/RJ100 I guess they would be easier to miss out.
As for another question any guesses as to where the fleet may well be going? potentially Swiss European and Lufthansa Regional could take some of the RJ100s?
So many questions :diablo:.
By: Ren Frew - 5th March 2007 at 12:21
. BA really now no longer serve Birmingham? hard to believe isn’t it :rolleyes:.
In the early 80’s BA dropped the ‘Airways’ part of it’s name from it’s livery. One wonder’s just how along they’ll be able to continue using the ‘British’ part of the name on it’s livery ?:D
Yet again, when the chips are down BA retreat back to LHR and ‘bully to you mate’…:rolleyes:
Ah but it’s all just business isn’t it ? 😉
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March 5, 2007 at 8:50 am