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Flybe cancels flights amid redundancy talks | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Regional airline Flybe has cancelled dozens of Wednesday morning flights as it enters discussions over potential job losses. | |
It is not clear whether the flight cancellations and job discussions are connected. | |
Flights from Belfast City Airport and Birmingham are among those affected. Most of the flights are within the UK. | |
The airline said it would like to "sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused". | The airline said it would like to "sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused". |
Cardiff Airport boss Deb Barber said: "We understand Flybe is in the process of consulting with a number of its employees, including its crew at multiple bases across its network, which includes Cardiff. | |
"Flybe's plan to restructure and reduce its jet operations across many bases is part of the company's long-standing objective to stabilise the business," she said. | |
The cuts are thought to affect Doncaster and Exeter, as well as Cardiff, as the company seeks to drop expensive jets in favour of cheaper turboprop routes. | |
The discussions are thought to be at an early stage. | |
Flybe did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the potential job losses. Of the delays, it said: "All customers affected have been emailed and advised they can rebook for travel on an alternative flight or apply for a full refund." | |
Sue Piercey, who lives in Bradford, told the BBC her flight from Leeds to Belfast today was cancelled. | Sue Piercey, who lives in Bradford, told the BBC her flight from Leeds to Belfast today was cancelled. |
"We received a curt email at 19:00 last night followed by an even shorter text message," she said. "No other flight options were offered." | "We received a curt email at 19:00 last night followed by an even shorter text message," she said. "No other flight options were offered." |
Flybe are scheduled to fly three later services from Leeds to Belfast today, and none were offered to Ms Piercey, she said. | Flybe are scheduled to fly three later services from Leeds to Belfast today, and none were offered to Ms Piercey, she said. |
"Our holiday is totally off now, and I hope my insurance company can help me," she said, describing herself as "very annoyed today". | "Our holiday is totally off now, and I hope my insurance company can help me," she said, describing herself as "very annoyed today". |
Customers also vented their frustration on social media. | Customers also vented their frustration on social media. |
Will disgruntled passengers receive compensation? | |
Anyone whose flight is cancelled is entitled to choose between a refund paid within seven days, or an alternative flight (or bus) - even with a rival carrier. | |
Unless they have chosen a refund, it is the responsibility of the airline to get anyone with a ticket to their final destination as promptly as possible. In many cases, they should receive refreshments during any wait of two or more hours. | |
Passengers whose flight is cancelled, or who suffer long delays, can apply for extra compensation under EU rules. | |
As these are mostly short-haul flights, and the cancellations were last-minute, most will be entitled to compensation of €250 (£213). | |
Anyone who misses a connecting flight should talk to the airline operating that second flight but, according to consumer group Which?, they may have to make a claim for the cost of a new flight from their travel insurance. | |
On Monday, Flybe passengers on a new route were left with a six-hour coach journey when their aircraft was grounded. | On Monday, Flybe passengers on a new route were left with a six-hour coach journey when their aircraft was grounded. |
The 18:40 service from Newquay to Heathrow could not take off on Sunday because of a "technical issue". | The 18:40 service from Newquay to Heathrow could not take off on Sunday because of a "technical issue". |
Cornwall Airport Newquay said passengers were offered "rebooking for another flight or ground transport to London Heathrow". | Cornwall Airport Newquay said passengers were offered "rebooking for another flight or ground transport to London Heathrow". |
Flybe was bought early this year in a rescue deal following poor financial results. | Flybe was bought early this year in a rescue deal following poor financial results. |
Connect Airways, a consortium led by Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic, paid a total of £2.8m for Flybe's assets and operations. | Connect Airways, a consortium led by Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic, paid a total of £2.8m for Flybe's assets and operations. |
Aggressive expansion | Aggressive expansion |
The Exeter-based regional airline put itself up for sale last November, following a profit warning the previous month. | The Exeter-based regional airline put itself up for sale last November, following a profit warning the previous month. |
Virgin, Stobart Air and Cyrus Capital set up Connect Airways in December. | Virgin, Stobart Air and Cyrus Capital set up Connect Airways in December. |
Flybe fell into difficulty in 2017, after what was considered a too-aggressive expansion strategy. The company ran up a near-£20m loss in the financial year ending 31 March 2017. | Flybe fell into difficulty in 2017, after what was considered a too-aggressive expansion strategy. The company ran up a near-£20m loss in the financial year ending 31 March 2017. |
This January, one employee was moved to send an email accusing the firm's directors of ruining a profitable company. | This January, one employee was moved to send an email accusing the firm's directors of ruining a profitable company. |
The employee, a senior pilot, addressed the email to Flybe's chief executive, Christine Ourmieres-Widener. | The employee, a senior pilot, addressed the email to Flybe's chief executive, Christine Ourmieres-Widener. |
"Congratulations, in two years at Flybe you and your fellow incompetent cohorts have managed to totally destroy a viable airline which was making profits when you took over," he wrote. | "Congratulations, in two years at Flybe you and your fellow incompetent cohorts have managed to totally destroy a viable airline which was making profits when you took over," he wrote. |
The BBC understands that the airline has suspended the pilot. | The BBC understands that the airline has suspended the pilot. |
Flybe told the BBC that "an individual was suspended on 17 January 2019 in accordance with company policy". | Flybe told the BBC that "an individual was suspended on 17 January 2019 in accordance with company policy". |
Have your travel plans been affected by Flybe cancellations? Get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Have your travel plans been affected by Flybe cancellations? Get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below: | Or use the form below: |