Loganair has announced plans to safeguard 16 routes formerly flown by airline Flybe.
The airline will be adding nearly 400 new flights each week and has opened a special recruitment line for former Flybe employees seeking jobs.
The 16 routes – from existing Loganair base airports at Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Newcastle – will be launched progressively over the next four months.
Flights from Aberdeen to Belfast City, Birmingham and Manchester will begin on March 16 and between Aberdeen and Jersey on May 9.
Our heartfelt sympathy is with Flybe’s dedicated team and their customers with affected travel plans.
Loganair will step-in to secure 16 key UK air-routes, which are now on sale. For details, including start dates, see our website. #flybe #loveloganair https://t.co/7UaN0T61E6 pic.twitter.com/UU1YSR7BOz
— Loganair (@FlyLoganair) March 5, 2020
Flights between Inverness and Birmingham will begin from March 17, between Inverness and Belfast City on March 23 and Inverness and Jersey on May 30.
Loganair’s chief executive Jonathan Hinkles said: “The collapse of a long-standing airline like Flybe marks a desperately sad day, especially for the airline’s dedicated team of employees and for customers facing disruption to their journeys.
“By stepping in quickly with a comprehensive plan, Loganair is aiming to maintain essential air connectivity within the UK regions to keep customers flying, and to offer new employment to former Flybe staff members who are facing an uncertain future today.”
Loganair will be recruiting for additional pilots, cabin crew and engineers to be based at Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle airports to support the expansion.
It is expected that over 100 new positions will be created across the four locations, and Loganair will be prioritising applications from former Flybe staff for all of these roles.