THURSDAY 5 MARCH 2020Troubled regional airline Flybe
collapses
The Exeter-based carrier had been relying on the government for a bailout (PA)
SIMON CALDER
TRAVEL CORRESPONDENT
Europe’s biggest regional airline, Flybe, collapsed last night. All flights have been cancelled, wrecking the
travel plans of tens of thousands of passengers, and more than 2,300 staff face an uncertain future.
The Exeter-based airline, with over 2,000 employees, was bought a year ago by a consortium headed by
Virgin Atlantic, and involving Stobart Group and the US hedge fund Cyrus Capital.
The owners put in at least £100m, but Flybe was making such heavy losses that the money ran out.