Flybe has officially ceased trading
(Picture: Nick Potts / PA)On Saturday, January 28, regional carrier Flybe revealed that it was officially in administration and all of its scheduled flights were to be cancelled.
The news was a surprise to many, as the airline had been given a new lease of life fairly recently.
After going bust in March 2020, it had regrouped and eventually gotten back on its feet in April 2022, announcing 23 routes.
Now, the 227 staff they have made redundant are being invited to join EasyJet and Ryanair, and the thousands of passengers who were due to fly with FlyBe are seeking travel alternatives and refunds.
Here is a look at how the business’s collapse has impacted travellers and what their options are.
How many people will be affected by the collapse of Flybe?
Flybe was scheduled to serve 17 destinations across the UK and Europe in 2023, according to aviation data firm Cirium.
The airline operated seven daily flights at Heathrow, Britain’s busiest airport, to locations like Amsterdam, Belfast, Newcastle and Newquay.
This week alone, Flybe was scheduled to operate 292 flights, equating to more than 22,700 seats. This is as well as the 227 losing their jobs.
If I have a cancelled Flybe flight, what should I do?
On January 28, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced that the company had gone into administration and urged those with booked Flybe flights not to travel to airports.
Instead, they asked ticket-holders to check its website for the latest information.
CAA consumer director Paul Smith said: “It is always sad to see an airline enter administration and we know that Flybe’s decision to stop trading will be distressing for all of its employees and customers.
“We urge passengers planning to fly with this airline not to go to the airport as all Flybe flights are cancelled. For the latest advice, Flybe customers should visit the Civil Aviation Authority’s website or our Twitter feed for more information.”
What should I do if I booked the flight with a credit card?
If booked directly with Flybe and paid by credit card, passengers may be protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and should contact their card issuer for further information
Those who booked tickets costing more than £100 will be able to claim from their credit card provider.
What should I do if I booked the flight with a debit card or the ticket was under £100?
If your tickets were under £100 or booked with a debit card, you can try to use chargeback from your bank or card provider.
The best way to find out more about this is to contact your bank and explain your circumstances.
I have travel insurance, what should I do?
Passengers with travel insurance should check if their policy includes Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance (SAFI) coverage.
The policy may simply cover the cost of the original tickets purchased or any unused portion, or the additional cost of purchasing new flights, such as new tickets for travel back to the UK.
The type of protection provided will vary depending on the type of policy taken out.
If their travel insurance includes SAFI coverage, passengers are advised to contact their insurer.
What if I booked my flight through a third party?
If a passenger did not book directly with Flybe, and purchased their tickets through a third party, they should contact their booking or travel agent in the first instance.
They may have provided SAFI as part of the booking arrangement.
Can the Government step in?
According to Which?, “very few” passengers flying Flybe will be on Atol-protected packages, so the Government is unlikely to step in and repatriate those abroad or provide refunds.
What is Atol protection?
Atol provides protection to holidaymakers when travel firms collapse.
If a business collapses while you are on holiday, the scheme will make sure you can finish your holiday and return home.
Customers who have not yet left home will be given a refund or replacement holiday.
