Aberdeen flights cancelled as Flybe goes under, but staff could be recruited by other airlines

FLYBE cancelled all flights to and from the UK at the weekend after going into administration.

A number of Scottish services are among those affected, but there are hopes that staff losing their jobs will be recruited by other airlines.

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A statement on Flybe’s website said it had “ceased trading” and told any passengers expecting to travel with it not to go to the airport.

About 2,500 passengers were due to fly on Saturday, with about 75,000 travellers in total having flights cancelled.

Flybe’s administrator confirmed 277 of its 321 staff are being made redundant.

Financial advisory firm Interpath said the rest of the company’s staff would be retained.

Aberdeen services

The airline announced last year it was to launch a daily service from Aberdeen to Birmingham in August, as well as up to four flights per week to Belfast City Airport from the Granite City. 

Glasgow and Edinburgh services have also been hit by the administration.

Flybe said it would not be able to help passengers arrange alternative flights.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority said it would provide advice and information to those affected.

Staff who have lost their jobs should apply for roles with easyJet and Ryanair, according to the two budget operators.

The British Airline Pilots’ Association said it had received phone calls in the early hours of Saturday from worried Flybe staff.

But the union’s leader, Martin Chalk, said there were jobs “out there”.

Vacancies

EasyJet said it had 250 vacancies for cabin crew, while Ryanair posted a message on the careers section of its website saying that it had vacancies in all categories, including pilots, engineers and ground staff.

The BBC says Flybe only relaunched last April.

In March 2020, it had announced it would cease trading, citing the coronavirus pandemic as a contributory factor.

The company was rescued after being bought by Thyme Opco, a firm linked to US hedge fund Cyrus Capital and subsequently renamed Flybe Limited.

The airline resumed operations with a plan to operate up to 530 flights per week across 23 routes.

Until the most-recent collapse, Flybe operated flights on 21 routes.

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