Is This The First Aviation Victim ?

[Bobbisox1]

Of the coronavirus

https://news.sky.com/story/flybe-boss-tells-staff-airline-going-into-administration-11949899

[waterboatman]

Could well be.

[aelmpvw]

weren't they in trouble before the coronavirus reared its ugly head?

[Deskdiary]

No.

Flybe have been in trouble for some time - it was pretty inevitable they were going to go belly-up for some time, so blaming coronavirus is incorrect.

[Bobbisox1]

But didn’t they get ‘bailed ‘ out? ^^

[emmie]

they have been in financial trouble for quite a while, long before the virus started.

[emmie]

the government was supposed to bail them out,
but the money wasn't forthcoming i heard on the news.

[Bobbisox1]

The headlines are blaming the virus for a downturn in passengers

[Mozz71]

They were already pretty much screwed, but it was decided that the government bailout wouldn't be enough to save them. The coronavirus was the final nail in the coffin.

[Bobbisox1]

Such a shame, I’ve never flown with them but think of the job losses incurred here

[emmie]

several thousand staff, one can only hope they can get jobs elsewhere in the airline industry..

[Bobbisox1]

It’s not looking good Emmie , airlines are jittery right now

[emmie]

it is jittery, people are having to stop travelling as well with regards to the coronovirus.

[Bobbisox1]

I fly ( hopefully) on the 17th

[youngmafbog]

It's a shame I loved flying with them but they kept chopping the flights I used. This has been going on for some time now so I suspect bad management along the way.

CONVID-19 is simply the straw that broke the camels back.

[rowanwitch]

There will be an upturn when the virus fizzles out, which it will. People will opt for holidays as a boost especially if they feel it will help them get back to normal. For now let's appreciate there is a drop in pollution, this virus may well buy the world some time

[ToraToraTora]

TBF FlyBe was terminal already.

[Bobbisox1]

3Ts, I think if things had been different ( re Covid - 19 ) and there was hope of the 2,400 employees getting other jobs with other airlines, but the future is very uncertain

[emmie]

it is, but the airline industry as a whole seems uncertain, what with the virus spreading, the falling of people travelling because of it, and the fact that
the world isn't exactly a safe place

[CrapAtCryptics]

Flybe has been mismanaged for a long time to the extent they were withholding tax to pay their bills and now, even after a tax holiday, they still cant survivie. As a regional airline I`d be suprised if their sales had fallen off that much due to covid19.

[New Judge]

Indeed. The government was looking at giving them a tax holiday. Other airlines thought this outrageous, as do I. Passengers are compelled to part wit the APD payments when they pay for their ticket. Those payments are not a loan to the airline to be repaid if and when they can manage it. The government also thought of making a loan but EU rules made that difficult.

Shame really because Flybe provided from very useful connections within the UK to airports not well served by the larger carriers. I don't think the virus had much to do with its demise at all. Their downfall has been on the cards for some time.