Fears for flights from Yorkshire as Flybe to wield axe

The group announced a complete overhaul of its services, which will result in the closure of some unprofitable routes and 500 job losses across the company’s 2,700-strong workforce.

Flybe said 61 of its 158 routes are unprofitable and some will be closed while others will be made profitable.

The airline declined to say which routes would be axed and refused to say how Leeds Bradford and Doncaster are performing. However, it said its key UK bases with the most flights are Southampton, Birmingham, Manchester and Belfast.

Flybe does not employ any staff at Leeds Bradford or Doncaster.

The man behind the revamp, new chief executive Saad Hammad, said: “We are the leader in regional aviation. This announcement is intended to help us keep that role. We’re filling a real consumer need.

“We’ve entered into consultation with the trade union. We’re not in a position to be specific about which bases or routes will be affected.”

Mr Hammad said he could not say which routes are profitable and which are not.

He called on airports to help the firm by lowering costs such as the amount they charge per passenger. “Some airports are more expensive than others,” he said.

He declined to say how Leeds Bradford and Doncaster rate in their charges compared with other airports.

“It’s very important we work in partnership with the airports,” said Mr Hammad. “They can be an enabler or a barrier. I hope they’re going to be an enabler.”

He said the cuts were essential to ensure Flybe can serve the regions economically for a long time to come.

“We are going to shrink to grow,” he said.

“There’s good growth and bad growth. I want good growth. Bad growth is non-profitable and non-sustainable.”

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