Ryanair and easyJet move to snap up Flybe staff after company collapses
Flybe staff could bag new jobs at easyJet and Ryanair after the regional airline collapsed this weekend.
Almost all of the routes only flown by the company will also be covered by the summer, a travel expert has said.
The fallout from Flybe's collapse - which was announced on Saturday - is perhaps less severe than it could've been, from a passenger and employee perspective.
For those reliant on the carrier and the quite specific routes it flew, Tim Jeans, board director at Cornwall Airport Newquay, had a hopeful message
He told the BBC's Today programme: "The good news is that because Flybe were so small virtually every one of their routes will be replaced certainly by this summer."
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Flybe announced the company had ceased trading on Saturday morning (PA)The 277 members of staff who found themselves without a job this weekend may soon be able to find new work.
A post on Ryanair's website encouraged Flybe staff to apply for new roles with the airline.
"[Ryanair has] positions for all of you, across all areas of our business, including flight crew, cabin crew, engineers, ground staff and office staff," it said.
EasyJet said it would encourage Flybe cabin crew to apply for the 250 vacancies it has at Gatwick and Luton airports, and that Flybe cabin crew would be fast tracked and be able to start work in just ten days.
On Saturday the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) made the announcement that the company had gone into administration for the second time in three years, asking passengers booked on Flybe flights not to travel to airports.
It urged ticket-holders to instead check its website for the latest information.
Ryanair says it has vacancies across the business (NurPhoto via Getty Images)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."
The airline tweeted: "We are sad to announce that Flybe has been placed into administration.
"David Pike and Mike Pink of Interpath have been appointed administrators. Flybe has now ceased trading. All Flybe flights from and to the UK are cancelled and will not be rescheduled."
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Flybe was pushed into administration in March 2020 with the loss of 2,400 jobs as the Covid-19 pandemic destroyed large parts of the travel market, but returned to the skies in April.
Its plan was to operate up to 530 flights per week across 23 routes, serving airports such as Belfast City, Birmingham, East Midlands, Glasgow, Heathrow and Leeds Bradford, and it flew the most UK domestic routes between airports outside London.
Freddie McBride, 61, from Balham, south London, branded Flybe "outrageous" after his flight from Heathrow to Belfast on Saturday morning was cancelled with just three hours' notice, forcing he and his wife to rebook with Aer Lingus.
EasyJet said it would encourage Flybe cabin crew to apply for the 250 vacancies it has at Gatwick and Luton (AFP via Getty Images)He said: "I got up at the crack of dawn, packed and we couldn't check in online last night so I thought we'd do it this morning.
"I left my wife to do it while I got the train. I got up at six and left the house before seven. I got to Hatton Central and I checked my email and it says they've gone into administration. It's just outrageous.
"I had to phone my wife to tell her and she booked from home while I was running about to terminal three and five to British Airways because I thought we could fly with them."
He added: "When I get on the plane I'll be relieved. They allowed us to book about a day or two ago. It's not good, it's not good."
Labour called the news "devastating" as it urged the Government to act.
"Protection for passengers is simply not strong enough - and ministers have sat on their hands for years and failed to introduce long-promised airline insolvency laws," shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said.
"They must act, and urgently strengthen protections for passengers, employees and those affected," she added.
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