Loganair to take over former Flybe routes including Inverness to Belfast City, Birmingham and Jersey
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Flights from Inverness to Belfast, Birmingham and Jersey will be taken over by Loganair following the collapse of troubled airline Flybe.
It has been announced that the Scottish airline will take over 16 routes after Flybe ceased trading during the early hours of this morning.
Loganair had been in talks with Scottish Government officials as it was preparing to take over the routes.
Earlier Scotland's transport secretary Michael Matheson confirmed his officials had been in discussions with the airline, as well as a number of Scottish airports, following Flybe being placed into administration.
He said: “My officials have spoken with AGS Airports, Edinburgh Airport and Highlands and Islands Airports this morning to discuss how we can best help ensure connectivity is maintained and enhanced.
"We have also spoken with Loganair, who are preparing to take up a number of Flybe’s former routes to help maintain connectivity.
"The Scottish Government and its agencies will continue to work closely with Scotland’s airports to deliver our collective route development ambitions in a highly competitive global market. We have a strong track record helping airports improve connectivity and that work will continue."
He said it was very disappointing that Flyve had folded and added: "The carrier was an essential part of our domestic transport network, connecting cities for business and tourism around the UK, as well as providing employment at the main airports in Scotland.
“We understand Flybe had around 300 employees at its bases in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. We have this morning contacted administrators Ernst Young, based in Manchester, to offer support to affected staff through our initiative for responding to redundancy situations, Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE)."
A number of train operators have also stepped in to offer stranded Flybe passengers free travel today.
Flybe employs around 300 people in Scotland and the advice to passengers who were scheduled to travel with the airline is not to travel to the airport but to visit the Civil Aviation Authority’s website for further advice at www.caa.co.uk/news.
News that it had collapsed came less than two months after Flybe was bailed out by the government.
The impact of the coronavirus scare on travel has been described as the final nail in the coffin for the troubled firm.
Other routes which Loganair will be taking over include: Aberdeen to Belfast City, Birmingham, Manchester and Jersey; Edinburgh to Cardiff, Exeter, Manchester, Newquay and Southampton; and Glasgow to Exeter and Southampton.
It will also operate from Newcastle to Exeter and Southampton.
