Flybe confirms flight reduction from Exeter Airport

All jet flights will stop in October

Exeter-based airline Flybe has confirmed it is to stop all jet flights from Exeter Airport later this year. 

The company says it's part of a previous strategy to reduce aircraft, and is unrelated to today's flight cancellations. 

All of its 118-seat Embraer 195 aircraft will be returned. Routes from Exeter using the jet include Alicante, Palma and Malaga in Spain and Faro in Portugal. The airline will continue with the 78-seat Bombardier Q-400. 

Norwich, Cardiff and Doncaster Airports are also affected by the changes.

In a statement Flybe CEO, Christine Ourmières-Widener said: “Our fleet reduction has always been core to improving our profitability. We are committed to assisting all our affected employees across the impacted Flybe bases. We remain fully committed to Exeter, Cardiff and Doncaster airports and will continue to offer a comprehensive choice of regional and European destinations operated by our 78-seat Bombardier Q400 aircraft”

Details of the changes:

Exeter - following discussions with the airport, Flybe will cease jet operations with effect from the start of the 2019-20 Winter programme.  The last jet flights will therefore operate on Saturday 26th October 2019.  This will not impact the Q400 operated schedule out of Exeter, nor the existing base structure.

Norwich – as with Exeter, Flybe will cease jet operations with effect from the start of the 2019-20 Winter programme.  This will not affect services at Norwich operated by Flybe’s franchise partner, Eastern Airways.

Cardiff & Doncaster – Flybe will cease jet operations out of these airports with effect from the start of the 2019-20 Winter programme.  Flybe currently has a base at both airports to service its jet services.  Once the jet flights cease Flybe will close these bases, but will continue to offer flights to and from both Cardiff and Doncaster on Q400 with aircraft and crew flying from other bases.