Post by Humberside on Dec 4, 2008 14:26:00 GMT
www.flybe.com/news/0812/2970.htm
Flybe, Europe’s biggest low cost regional airline is today making two announcements. Firstly the release of its summer 2009 programme from Norwich International Airport and secondly, in relation to the deployment of aircraft and the impact that will have on its Norwich staff base.
Flybe is pleased to announce that the popular high-frequency Edinburgh and Manchester routes will be supplemented by the return of Jersey and Exeter to the East Anglian schedule.
As the biggest regional airport in Europe, Flybe confirms its commitment to East Anglian passengers by placing on sale 140,000 tickets, will be available from today (Thursday December 4th) for travel from Norwich between March 28th and October 24th 2009.
With prices starting from just £29.99 one way including taxes and charges, the schedule underlines Flybe’s continuing long-term investment in Norwich. The summer 2009 passenger schedule from Norwich shows a net loss of only one current route, to Dublin.
The announcement of Flybe’s full summer programme, including new routes and new destinations throughout the UK and Europe, is proof that the airline continues to thrive in spite of challenging economic circumstances. Record profits in 2007-08 and an 08-09 first quarter performance ahead of last year put Flybe in a position that few of its rivals can match in the face of the coming recession. While other airlines slash routes and cut capacity, Flybe's summer programme is set to top 190 routes.
The second Flybe announcement relates to changes at its Norwich base. Flybe needs to keep a close and constant eye on costs in order to remain as competitive as possible in a fierce environment. Hence, Flybe today confirms that its Norwich to Dublin route will cease in March.
In order to maintain services to and from Norwich, Flybe has also taken the decision to position the aircraft currently based at Norwich to the other end of the route, where Flybe bases already exist. In practical terms this means, for example, that the daily Norwich to Edinburgh service will commence from Edinburgh, rather than Norwich, meaning that the Norwich departure will be at 0850, rather than 0700 – still allowing for a full day in Scotland’s capital. This change will take place from March 28th 2009.
It also regrettably means that the Flybe staff based at Norwich have today met with senior Flybe staff and been informed that, as a result of the aircraft redeployment, the proposal to close the Norwich crew base and their jobs are officially deemed to be ‘at risk’.
In the meeting at 1300 today, the 45 staff (21 cabin crew, 20 flight deck and 4 engineers) were told they will be invited and encouraged to apply for vacancies elsewhere on the Flybe network and if successful will be offered relocation costs to move to another Flybe base. Flybe is completely committed to finding alternative opportunities for all Norwich-based within the company and Flybe will now enter a period of consultation with the staff and their representatives about the implications of this closure. Flybe's Norwich staff represent 1.4% of the company's total staff numbers.
Commenting on Flybe’s plans, Chief Commercial Officer Mike Rutter said:
“Flybe is pleased to confirm our commitment to our Norwich passengers by not only announcing our summer timetable to Edinburgh and Manchester but also by re-introducing our services to Jersey and Exeter. We are naturally disappointed not to be able to retain the service to Dublin but anyone reading the newspapers will know we live in challenging times and for Flybe to be able to continue to offer choice to the travelling public, we must remain competitive and take difficult decisions”.
Commenting on the proposal to close the Norwich crew base and to deploy the aircraft to the ‘other end’ of the route, Mr Rutter added:
“Tough choices have to be taken in the current economic climate. The only realistic way to retain services at the airport and for Flybe to maintain a strong schedule from Norwich is to redeploy the aircraft to Manchester and Edinburgh. We want every single one of our staff to stay and that’s why today we have told them of our plans and will work with them and their Trades Unions to ensure Flybe retains their skills”.
Flybe is pleased to announce that the popular high-frequency Edinburgh and Manchester routes will be supplemented by the return of Jersey and Exeter to the East Anglian schedule.
As the biggest regional airport in Europe, Flybe confirms its commitment to East Anglian passengers by placing on sale 140,000 tickets, will be available from today (Thursday December 4th) for travel from Norwich between March 28th and October 24th 2009.
With prices starting from just £29.99 one way including taxes and charges, the schedule underlines Flybe’s continuing long-term investment in Norwich. The summer 2009 passenger schedule from Norwich shows a net loss of only one current route, to Dublin.
The announcement of Flybe’s full summer programme, including new routes and new destinations throughout the UK and Europe, is proof that the airline continues to thrive in spite of challenging economic circumstances. Record profits in 2007-08 and an 08-09 first quarter performance ahead of last year put Flybe in a position that few of its rivals can match in the face of the coming recession. While other airlines slash routes and cut capacity, Flybe's summer programme is set to top 190 routes.
The second Flybe announcement relates to changes at its Norwich base. Flybe needs to keep a close and constant eye on costs in order to remain as competitive as possible in a fierce environment. Hence, Flybe today confirms that its Norwich to Dublin route will cease in March.
In order to maintain services to and from Norwich, Flybe has also taken the decision to position the aircraft currently based at Norwich to the other end of the route, where Flybe bases already exist. In practical terms this means, for example, that the daily Norwich to Edinburgh service will commence from Edinburgh, rather than Norwich, meaning that the Norwich departure will be at 0850, rather than 0700 – still allowing for a full day in Scotland’s capital. This change will take place from March 28th 2009.
It also regrettably means that the Flybe staff based at Norwich have today met with senior Flybe staff and been informed that, as a result of the aircraft redeployment, the proposal to close the Norwich crew base and their jobs are officially deemed to be ‘at risk’.
In the meeting at 1300 today, the 45 staff (21 cabin crew, 20 flight deck and 4 engineers) were told they will be invited and encouraged to apply for vacancies elsewhere on the Flybe network and if successful will be offered relocation costs to move to another Flybe base. Flybe is completely committed to finding alternative opportunities for all Norwich-based within the company and Flybe will now enter a period of consultation with the staff and their representatives about the implications of this closure. Flybe's Norwich staff represent 1.4% of the company's total staff numbers.
Commenting on Flybe’s plans, Chief Commercial Officer Mike Rutter said:
“Flybe is pleased to confirm our commitment to our Norwich passengers by not only announcing our summer timetable to Edinburgh and Manchester but also by re-introducing our services to Jersey and Exeter. We are naturally disappointed not to be able to retain the service to Dublin but anyone reading the newspapers will know we live in challenging times and for Flybe to be able to continue to offer choice to the travelling public, we must remain competitive and take difficult decisions”.
Commenting on the proposal to close the Norwich crew base and to deploy the aircraft to the ‘other end’ of the route, Mr Rutter added:
“Tough choices have to be taken in the current economic climate. The only realistic way to retain services at the airport and for Flybe to maintain a strong schedule from Norwich is to redeploy the aircraft to Manchester and Edinburgh. We want every single one of our staff to stay and that’s why today we have told them of our plans and will work with them and their Trades Unions to ensure Flybe retains their skills”.
