Flybe

Established in 1979 as Jersey European Airways from the merger of Intra Airways and Express Air Services, by the start of the 21st century, Flybe had grown to become the largest regional airline in Europe. From small beginnings, it operated passenger and cargo flights between the Channel Islands and mainland UK using various turboprop aircraft. Acquired by the Walker Group in 1983, route expansion and the introduction of larger aircraft into the fleet followed. Jersey European's first jet aircraft, the BAe 146, arrived in 1993 in response to increasing passenger numbers, and network development into Europe, including a franchise partnership with Air France. Renamed British European in 2000 to better reflect the airline's business, a further change followed in 2002 when the airline rebranded itself as a low-fare carrier and changed its name to Flybe. Flybe was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2010, but during the subsequent ten years, encountered a series of financial problems and faced substantial losses. It was taken over by the Connect Airways Consortium in 2019 but financial difficulties ensued. The company went into administration in March 2020. Flybe returned to the skies in 2022 as an entirely new company. With more than 140 images, this book charts the rise and fall of Flybe and the relaunch of Flybe 2.0.