Flybe enters administration for a second time

It’s the second time in just under three years the firm has entered administration, previously announcing it would cease trading in March 2020 – citing the Covid pandemic as a contributory factor. It was subsequently purchased by Thyme Opco, a business linked to the US hedge fund Cyrus Capital, resuming operations in April 2022.  

The administrators said 277 of Flybe’s 321 staff have now been made redundant with the remaining 44 being retained.  

In response to this, trade union the British Airline Pilots Association’s (BALPA) general secretary Martin Chalk said: “Many of the staff of Flybe will have recently suffered the harrowing effects of one bankruptcy, and now they are being subjected to yet another.  

“BALPA will not only support its members through this difficult time, but will seek to work with the DfT to improve the regulatory framework to avoid such sudden and precipitous events in the future.” 

Following the news, budget airline operators EasyJet and Ryanair said those Flybe staff who lost their jobs should apply for roles with them.  

EasyJet said it had 250 vacancies for cabin crew, while Ryanair posted a message on its careers page saying it had vacancies in all categories.