Flybe Takes Off as Popular UK Airline

The newest UK CAA air traffic figures have been released and they reveal that Flybe along with spin-off partner Loganair are responsible for over two times the number of domestic flights across the UK than any other airline in the country. EasyJet and BMI group tied for second place, and British Airways lagged behind significantly coming up in fourth place.

For the last ten years, Flybe has expanded from its days as Jersey European and British European to be a seven million passenger a year domestic airline provider. The small budget company which began in 1998 with barely under two million passengers has grown by five million passengers in capacity.

Since the start of 2003, annual load factors on average have varied between 70 to 60 percent. For 2009, in light of the economic recession passenger numbers have declined by about six percent per month, however capacity has retained most of its stability.

Flybe’s network figures were last analysed by anna.aero which showed that Southampton led the numbers in load factors with Manchester, Belfast City, Birmingham, and London Gatwick coming in behind. Currently, the airline uses London Gatwick as its secondary large base, according to weekly seating capacities. The airline increased its number of routes at the London airport from seven to ten. However, Southampton is by far Flybe’s largest base offering 21 routes out.