Thousands Of Passengers Stuck As Flybe Flights Are Cancelled

The airline blamed pilot shortages for last-minute axing of services.
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Flybe has cancelled dozens of flights at the last minute, citing a raft of operational reasons, including pilot shortages.

Most of the affected flights are within the UK and include departures from Newcastle, Southampton, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Belfast City and Birmingham.

The regional airline apologised to the thousands of customers affected and said 95% of its flights are “operating as normal”.

In a statement, the company said: “Flybe sincerely apologises to all of our customers and partners affected by the current flight cancellations.”

FLYBE COMMENT
Flight cancellations – Wednesday 3rd April 2019 pic.twitter.com/nvn5TdH8zs

— Flybe ✈ (@flybe) April 3, 2019

It added: “We are doing our best to mitigate the impact of the current situation that has arisen due to a combination of factors, including seasonality, pilots’ end of leave year, Easter holidays, base restructuring and the shortage of pilots across the industry that Flybe has highlighted over recent months.”

Flybe said it had contacted all affected passengers, who have been told that they can rebook or apply for a refund.

However, some customers said they were not given adequate information.

Disgruntled passengers aired their frustrations on social media, with one writing: “We’re stuck on the plane and not moving! Should be in Belfast in 10 mins! Absolute shocker. Operational reasons aka, someone called in sick??”

Just arrived at Schiphol Airport and my 1335 #flybe Amsterdam to Southampton flight has been cancelled! pic.twitter.com/Vct6wAjhBu

— Gareth Herincx (@garethherincx) April 3, 2019

We're stuck on the plane and not moving! Should be in Belfast in 10 mins! Absolute shocker. Operational reasons aka, someone called in sick??

— LB (@lbrown51) April 3, 2019

What's going on at #FlyBe. We've just booked flights to Bordeaux with them and this morning I hear they've cancelled 20 flights for some bizarre reason

— Anastasia (@Stellawexford) April 3, 2019

CEO Christine Ourmières-Widener apologised to customers in a statement posted to Twitter.

“We would like to apologise to all impacted customers about our cancellations today,” she said.

A message from our CEO, Christine Ourmières-Widener about today’s cancellations. pic.twitter.com/3jG4dsQgVB

— Flybe ✈ (@flybe) April 3, 2019

The CEO added that the firm was “working to mitigate the factors behind cancellation”.

Another passenger said he was notified of his cancelled flight on Tuesday evening, while another said he found out through Twitter.

So twitter open to 10pm but customer service line 6:30pm (no website chat) and text alert for cancelled flight goes out at 6:21pm 🤔 I’ve sent a DM with details

— Aidan McGaughey (@AidansOnline) April 2, 2019

Not ideal. I am already at EMA for my (cancelled) 12:20 flight to Glasgow and the next flight is at 20:40. Nothing better you can do? I only found out this morning on Twitter. No other communication has come through.

— Alan Williamson (@AlanTWilliamson) April 3, 2019

Consumer organisation Which? said in a statement: “Thousands of people will understandably be frustrated to have their travel plans thrown into chaos by these last-minute cancellations – and the lack of clear information provided by Flybe was completely unacceptable.

“All passengers affected by these cancellations are entitled to a full refund or to be rerouted on to another flight to their intended destination – and to over £200 compensation under European air travel rules.”

The disruption followed the launch of the airline’s summer schedule, but Flybe did not say whether this triggered the cancellations.

The airline, based in Exeter, has been beset with similar issues of late with the implementation of the new route. Customers on Monday were left with a six-hour journey from Newquay to Heathrow, after their flight was grounded.

Cornwall Airport said the flight was cancelled because of an aircraft technical issue.

Last year, Flybe was bought for £2.8 million by the Connect Airways consortium, which includes Virgin Atlantic.

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