Flybe open to offering new services from Guernsey ‘if they are profitable’

The airline was acquired by a Virgin Atlantic-led consortium earlier this year and last week it was announced that it would be rebranded as Virgin Connect.

A Flybe spokesman said it had already announced the continuation of the Guernsey-Heathrow route for the winter, but the rest of the summer 2020 timetable would not be released until early next month.

They would not be drawn on whether any services will be added or dropped.

‘Flybe is always open to considering additional new routes provided they have a solid baseline expectation of being profitable,’ they said.

‘By the same token, if a route or service is not profitable then it would be removed.’

The airline has been operating with Blue Islands on a franchise arrangement for some routes, including Guernsey to Southampton.

‘Flybe greatly values the franchise relationship we have with Blue Islands and we look forward to continuing to work with them when we start operating as Virgin Connect,’ the spokesman said.

Blue Islands CEO Rob Veron said it wanted to congratulate Flybe on the new arrangement.

‘Blue Islands remains independently owned and wholly committed to serving our Channel Islands communities with reliable and convenient year-round, high-frequency regional connectivity, while delivering value for money and a great customer experience,’ he said.

‘We look forward to working closely with the team at Virgin Connect as wider plans evolve.’