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2002 – Flybe Created as a New Generation of Regional Airline

In 2002, we set out to create a new generation of regional airline which built upon Jersey European’s (Flybe’s predecessor airline) 23 year successful history as a regional legacy airline, while learning from the business models of the new emerging low-cost companies. The new airline, Flybe, was created with a fresh and dynamic retail focused brand and, crucially, a very clear segmental focus.

• The new airline would be regional, not radial; with high frequency routes averaging less than an hour per sector, unashamedly serving convenient regional airports
• It would focus on the business traveller, on passengers who wanted to visit friends and relatives (VFR) and on second home owners
• Unlike so many other new airlines, it would retain a customer service culture and work with, rather than against, the travel trade
• The new airline aimed to take business passengers from the legacy airlines and smaller regional operators and also attract leisure passengers from the low cost airlines
• It would provide quality product features (lounges, FFP, convenient check- in) designed to deliver a higher percentage of business travellers than the emerging Lo-cost models
• The new Flybe would reduce distribution costs to the lowest possible level (consistent with its segment focus) while converting costs to ancillary revenues

Flybe today

Since 2002 Flybe has grown to become Europe’s largest and most successful regional airline, and is now:

• Serving 12 countries
• Operating more than 170 routes
• Flying from 34 UK and 29 European airports
• Employing 3,000 staff
• Becoming a household brand name
• Serving the unique transport needs of the UK and European regions.

Over that 6 year period Flybe has developed a strong track record of delivery:

• Passenger growth of 24% compound per annum
• Turnover growth of 25% compound per annum
• Ancillary revenue growth of 63% compound per annum
• Business growth and turnaround financed without resource to shareholders’ funds since Jan 2002.

Most major investments made in business infrastructure:

• Modern $2 billion fleet purchased and financed - the right fleet for our regional business
• Biggest European regional aircraft engineering business
• £50m+ invested in the brand
• £30m+ invested in IT infrastructure