FlyBe has been fiddling with its fleet plans, and will be sticking primarily to the Bombardier Q400. This has impact for other aircraft in its fleet… especially the Embraer E-195.
Flybe Embraer E-195 at Belfast City Airport – Image, Economy Class and Beyond
With the airline wanting to concentrate on what it calls its “profitable routes only”, it seems the Embraer E-195 is too large for the airline.
The remaining nine remaining Embarer E-195 are planned to exit the FlyBe fleet April 2020. Six older Bombardier Q400 aircraft will be removed from the fleet too. According to FlyBe, the fleet – which have an average age of 10 years old will have their service lives extended.
Flybe Bombardier Q400 at Hamburg Airport – Image, Economy Class and Beyond
The Embraer E-175 fleet will be augmented with an extra four aircraft – due to enter the fleet in 2019. These aircraft will be used on busier routes that FlyBe operate. The airline is not aiming to order or take delivery of any other aircraft.
According to CEO Christine Ourmières- Widener:
“Flybe’s strategy is to reduce the fleet size to an optimum level and make the business demand-driven rather than capacity-led. Our fleet configuration is an important part of that strategy. We examined exhaustively all the options and concluded the Bombardier Q400 is the best core aircraft for us. Its superior economy, speed and quietness is ideal for a regional airline such as ourselves. Together with a number of Embraer E175s, our future fleet will be the optimum required for our specific regional route network.”
Their suppliers – Bombardier and Embraer also made comment. Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft stated
“We are delighted that Flybe, our long-term customer and largest Q400 operator, remains committed to the Q400 as its preferred turboprop. With its jet-like performance, industry-leading reliability and unbeatable economics, we are glad that the Q400 turboprop will continue to support Flybe as the airline further imposes itself as one of Europe’s leading regional providers.”
John Slattery, President & CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation added
“Flybe’s commitment to the E175 as its regional jet of choice is a great endorsement of the type as a key part of its wider fleet. Now, introducing in its fleet the most updated version of the E175 with lower fuel burn, Flybe will enjoy even greater operating economics on their jet-service routes. We are looking forward to continuing to support and work with Flybe in the future.”
The airline seems to be adjusting to a new climate – where it has to focus more on regional destinations that can deliver a decent bottom line, rather than lining up capacity and throwing it there (knowing they can’t compete with other low-cost carriers in terms of capacity).
Considering the routes it goes on – this could be a good thing, providing the network is managed a lot tighter than it currently is.
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