Budget airline Flybe has struck a deal with Finnair to take over 12 short-haul routes in northern Europe

The routes will be flown by Embraer E190 aircraft bearing the Finnair livery, but will  be flown under Flybe Finland’s certificate and served by Flybe crew.

Flybe Finland is scheduled to take over 30% of Finnair routes in an effort to help the airline become more profitable.

Low-cost airline Flybe has announced a new route from East Midlands Airport, UK to Chambery in the French Alps. This will be a seasonal route running from December 15, 2012 to March 30, 2013.

Online booking is now available and one-way fares start from £49.99 plus taxes.

 

Low-cost carrier Flybe has announced it will be expanding its services from East Midlands and Birmingham airports in the UK. This comes just days after news that BmiBaby will be reducing the frequency of these routes and eventually ceasing all operations later this year.

Flybe will be doubling its weekday flights to from Birmingham to Belfast City Airport to four a day. The airline also plans to operate additional flights from East Midlands to Amsterdam, Paris, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Jersey in the coming months.

In the press release, Flybe managing director Andrew Strong stated:

“We have been surprised at bmibaby’s decision to close some of its routes within just six weeks time and as a result we are doing everything we can to work with our airport partners in ensuring that those passengers wanting to travel from East Midlands Airport are not left stranded.

“We realise that many passengers rely on East Midlands for their regional and European travel. We are therefore pleased that we can offer them continuity of service with increased weekday frequency on our Belfast City service and that our flexible special offer over the next few days will facilitate urgent bookings to take place with due peace of mind.”

“Flybe has long had a desire to bring to the East Midlands the specialist long term and stable regional air services that we have brought to virtually every major UK regional airport over the last 25 years. We are confident that the measures we have taken today should ensure that passengers experience little or no service disruption on what are crucially important links for the East Midlands economy.”

British budget airline Flybe has dropped its £9 flat fee for passengers paying for by debit card for flights booked online. This change comes just at Britain’s Office of Fair Trading is considering action against airlines that pass on the debit card transaction fees to the consumer.

In a statement, Flybe said it has removed the debit fee as “”a fair, open and transparent approach to sales and service policies”.

Most budget airlines currently charge a transaction fee per flight leg, per passenger. Flybe’s decision to drop this fee may lead to other budget airlines like Ryanair or EasyJet having to drop theirs too in order to remain competitive.

Leading regional airline offers choice of 141 summer routes with up to 2,938 flights a week including two new summer routes from Manchester and return of popular sun routes.

Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline and the UK’s Number One Domestic carrier, has today announced its full 2012 summer schedule that offers passengers a choice of 141 routes with up to 2,938 flights a week to an extensive range of attractive destinations across the UK and regional Europe. Tickets are on sale now for booking at www.flybe.com from £19.99 one way including taxes and charges and currently available for travel from March 25th through to September 9th 2012.

As well as the return of popular sun and cultural routes such as flights to and from selected airports such as Alicante, Jersey, Guernsey, Dubrovnik, Bordeaux, La Rochelle, Nice, Faro, Bergerac, Malaga and Verona, this year’s extensive 2012 summer schedule also includes two new summer routes from Manchester to Newquay and Knock in Western Ireland.

Flybe has established a strong presence at London Gatwick airport from where it will operate 10 routes during Summer 2012 that, as well as its convenient UK regional services, also includes the return of a twice daily service to Nantes and the ever popular weekend operation to Bergerac. The airline flies over four times more domestic routes than any other airline from London Gatwick and, for the first two reported quarters of 2011, has received its new Gold Award for outstanding punctuality.

In committing to keeping British business moving during these continued economically challenging times, Flybe also offers a comprehensive choice of key routes with convenient schedules designed for business travellers. These, coupled with Flybe’s popular Economy Plus product offering a range of added value bonuses such as extra baggage allowance, access to Flybe’s dedicated Executive Lounges and free flight changes, are designed to ensure that Flybe remains the number one choice for quick and comfortable point-to-point business travel.

Andrew Strong, Managing Director Flybe UK comments: “In continuing to keep Britain on the move, we are confident we have come up with summer travel options that are both extensive and affordable for Summer 2012. We are also pleased that, through our many codeshare partners, we are able to offer our customers even more travel choice that extends further our reach across Europe and the rest of the world.

“Flybe is committed to responding to our customers’ needs and we know that many welcome the opportunity to plan their summer travels as early as possible. We appreciate that this is especially true during these uncertain economic times as families and business travellers look to make their money go further and take advantage of the lowest fares available.”

Leading regional airline increases flight frequency on popular route to key French business city

Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline and the UK’s Number One Domestic carrier is boosting its weekday service between London Gatwick and Nantes from March 28th with an additional evening departure and a new summer Saturday service from April 23rd following the success of the route that started last November.

The additional flight on weekday evenings (departing London Gatwick 1800 arr Nantes 2025 – departing Nantes 2050 arr London Gatwick 2115) will operate through to the end of the summer season on October 28th offering a convenient and affordable day-return service especially attractive for those traveling on business; while the new Saturday service offers additional flexibility.

Flybe already operates more routes from the regional UK to regional France than any other carrier and this increased service between London Gatwick and Nantes means that it now offers up to 446 flights each week to 18 destinations in France from 11 UK airports.

Mike Rutter, Flybe’s Chief Commercial Officer, comments: “We have an established reputation for serving regional France from the UK regions. By doubling our daily flights on this popular route between London Gatwick and Nantes, we are demonstrating our ongoing commitment to growing our regional network to and from France and to providing innovative, quality travel options to key travel destinations for both business and leisure travellers.”