FlyBE. success leads to route closure
Since the launch of flyBE. in July 2002 as a low fares regional airline, the fortunes of the airline have been transformed. In the last financial year 2002/3 flyBE. recorded a small profit, a significant improvement on previous trading.
This was as a result of an aggressive marketing campaign coupled with low fares offerings. FlyBE. has recorded a fall in the average fare paid by passengers and as anticipated, this has been offset by huge increases in passenger numbers which have increased from 2.2 million to 4.1 million in the last eighteen months.
As a consequence flyBE. is under pressure to increase capacity on many routes, to provide more seats to meet a growing demand and its business model regarding fleet rationalization aims to have only two operating aircraft types in the fleet.
FlyBE. will therefore operate only Dash-8-400 aircraft and BAE146 jet aircraft in its fleet and smaller aircraft are being returned to the manufacturers.
As a result flyBE., the largest scheduled airline in the Channel Islands, today announces the withdrawal of the Jersey – London City route effective from 16th June 2004.
The decision to remove the Jersey-London City route was made following plans to replace the 37 seat Dash-200 series aircraft based at Jersey with the 78 seat Dash-400, in June 2004. The change in aircraft follows flyBE.’s continued and significant growth in the area, which has seen advanced bookings on Jersey routes up by 65% over the last year. Unfortunately, demand for the Jersey-London City route cannot support this increase in capacity.
FlyBE. will continue to provide a gateway to London via its Jersey – London Gatwick and Jersey-London Luton routes which will remain unaffected by this move.
Ian Taylor, General Manager, flyBE., Channel Islands and Southampton, commented, “Our significant growth both in the Channel Islands and across the whole flyBE. network has resulted in us needing to provide larger capacity aircraft. Unfortunately due to the size of the market to London City this has meant we have had to withdraw, as quite simply an aircraft providing 78 seats is too big for the route demand. We are sure that in the long term, our strategy of investment and expansion on our network routes, increasing capacity and rationalizing our fleet will be of long term benefit to our passengers.”
All passengers who are holding reservations for travel post 16th June 2004 will be offered the alternative of transferring to London Gatwick or a full refund on their tickets.
FlyBE. would like to confirm that the withdrawal of the London City route has no implications for its staff based in Jersey.
FlyBE. is firmly committed to providing air routes and support services for the Channel Islands, giving residents and visitors access to excellent transport links at the most competitive prices.
FlyBE. is the largest carrier to Jersey and continues to operate over 230 scheduled flights per week on its Jersey routes.
Sign In
April 16, 2004 at 5:50 pm