In response to Flybe entering administration, Brian Ambrose, Chief Executive of Belfast City Airport said: “We are extremely disappointed at this news.
“Our first thoughts go to the Flybe employees and passengers affected.
“From Belfast City Airport, Flybe had operated a strong and profitable base of 14 routes to key regional destinations across the UK.
“The airline was a significant economic driver for the region, carrying 1.6 million passengers to and from Belfast in 2019.
“I am confident that these well-established routes, coupled with our city centre location and recent £15m investment in terminal facilities, will prove an attractive option to airlines.
“Negotiations with a number of carriers are already underway.
“Passengers should not travel to the airport and should refer to www.caa.co.uk/news/ for further information and advice.”
Reacting to the news this morning that Flybe has entered administration, Colin Neill, Chief Executive, Hospitality Ulster commented: “This is simply devastating news for Northern Ireland. The regional connectivity that Flybe offered was vitally important to tourism and our wider hospitality sector here, without it there will be a huge impact on visitor access. The knock on effect of fewer visitors and tourists means that this sounds alarm for our pubs, restaurants and hotels at a time when Coronavirus is compounding the sector’s problems.”
“Great Britain is our largest tourism market and without that regional connectivity, the hospitality sector is going to take a real hammering. Our only hope in the short term is that other carriers can increase capacity so that visitors can come here and not be put off by Flybe’s collapse.”
“This is a very clear reason why Air Passenger Duty needs to be scrapped immediately and we call on the Chancellor to wake up to this grave situation and cancel APD in his Budget only a week away.”
Government response to the collapse of Flybe
A Government spokesperson said: “Following a commercial decision by the company, Flybe has ceased trading.
“We recognise the impact this will have on Flybe’s passengers and staff. Government staff will be on hand at all affected UK airports to help passengers.
“The vast majority of Flybe routes are served by different transport options, and we have asked bus and train operators to accept Flybe tickets and other airlines to offer reduced rescue fares to ensure passengers can make their journeys as smoothly as possible.
“We know this will be a worrying time for Flybe staff and our Jobcentre Plus Rapid Response Service stands ready to help them find a new job as soon as possible.
“We are working closely with industry to minimise any disruption to routes operated by Flybe, including by looking urgently at how routes not already covered by other airlines can be re-established by the industry.
“Through the reviews of regional connectivity and Airport Passenger Duty we have announced, we will bring forward recommendations to help ensure that the whole of the UK has the connections in place that people rely on.
“Flybe’s financial difficulties were longstanding and well documented and pre-date the outbreak of COVID-19. We are well prepared a potential outbreak and this week we have set out an action plan with details of our response.”
