The UK government has reached an agreement to keep regional airline Flybe operating.
“Delighted that we have reached agreement with Flybe’s shareholders to keep the company operating, ensuring that UK regions remain connected,” said UK business secretary Andrea Leadsom on Twitter on the evening of 14 January. “This will be welcome news for Flybe’s staff, customers and creditors and we will continue the hard work to ensure a sustainable future.”
Full details of the agreement were yet to emerge, but pilot union BALPA tweeted: ”This is good news for 2,400 Flybe staff whose jobs are secured and regional communities who would have lost their air connectivity without Flybe. BALPA looks forward to discussing the airline’s future plans in detail with management.”
Emergency talks between the government and Flybe’s owners – the Connect Airways consortium – were being held on 14 January amid indications the operator was seeking urgent funding.
