A devastated member of Flybe air crew broke down on live TV today as she described learning that her job was at risk and 2,000-plus colleagues are likely to be out of work.
Katherine Densham, who worked for the collapsed airline for 13 years, was visibly devastated as she arrived at Exeter airport to say goodbye to her ‘Flybe family’.
She cried about the ‘sad’ collapse of the airline and said: ‘I’m not sure what I’m going to do now. I’ve worked for them since leaving college’.
She added: ‘I heard in the early hours of the morning. We were due to operate this morning flying to London City so I just wanted to come in and see everyone. We’re just all really sad, really sad’, and said she has to get on and ‘find something to try and pay the bills’.
Flybe staff have bid a poignant ‘farewell’ to their colleagues and told how they are ‘truly heartbroken’ at losing their jobs after the airline collapsed – but some anger has been directed at bosses who let it go to the wall last night.
Staff posted photographs and messages on social media within hours of the announcement
Devastated Flybe crew bid ‘farewell’ to their colleagues and told how they are ‘truly heartbroken’
One staff member, who has flown with Flybe for 16 years, admitted: ‘The people made Flybe. On the frontline, we were lions – lions led by donkeys.’
The man, who asked to remain anonymous, said he was ‘still in denial’ about the news. He added: ‘I still think this is a dream. I was praying for a miracle. I’ve not slept all night and am worrying what I’m going to do next. I’m 35 and flown in total 16 years – this is basically all I’ve known’.
‘Working for an airline is more than work. You work 24/7, 365 days a year. You sometimes see colleagues more than you see your own family. They, in turn, become your surrogate family.
‘The older ones look out for the younger ones and I’ve lost count of the numerous surrogate younger siblings. It was a real family affair. Mothers and daughters, husbands and wives. So many babies have been born due to the parents meeting at work.’
Staff posted photographs and messages on social media within hours of the announcement the budget carrier had plunged into administration – writing how they would ‘cherish all the memories’ of their ‘Flybe family’ and ‘hope we are all back in the skies where we belong.’
Tributes to the airline flooded social media as Flybe collapsed in chaotic circumstances, with passengers sent texts at 2am warning them of cancellations, while staff were informed the company had ceased trading during shifts.
Thousands have been left stranded as all Flybe flights were grounded with ‘immediate effect’ last night, or diverted to the nearest airport in mid-air so the planes could be impounded.
Cabin crew Sophie Wilson wrote: ‘So heartbroken & numb to get the email that flybe is gone. It wasn’t just a airline. ‘It was a job that never felt like a hard days work’
Staff posted images showing them posing with colleagues as the airline announced it had fallen into administration
Up to 2,300 jobs are now at risk as Flybe, owned by Virgin Atlantic, Stobart and Cyrus Capital, an American hedge fund, blamed the coronavirus crisis for hastening their collapse because of a drop in sales.
Air hostess Sophie Wilson wrote on Instagram: ‘So heartbroken & numb to get the email that flybe is gone. It wasn’t just a airline.
‘It was a job that never felt like a hard days work. Will be forever grateful that i got to share my problems and pour my heart out in the back galley to people who were fellow crew members that became friends for life.
‘I hope it isn’t to soon until were all back in the skies where we belong. Thinking of all my flybe lot’
Another said: ‘Thinking of everyone I worked with at Flybe this morning.’
Flybe crew flooded social media with images as they shared their memories of working at the airline
Cabin crew member Juliette-Rose Carruthers said: ‘Bye Bye Flybe Family. Whilst flying the skies yesterday not for one moment did I realise that it was going to be my last day working for Flybe and that honestly breaks my heart.
‘Thank you for the last 6 years for the good times, the hard times, the exams, the training & for all of the friends made throughout the way.
‘To my colleagues I will miss you all. I will miss sitting in the back galley drinking tea & chatting about only things your closest friends would know, even if we had only worked together several times.
‘Thank you for making my time at Flybe so enjoyable and the thought of not seeing you all each day fills me with such sadness. You are all such incredible people & such a pleasure to fly with.
‘When they go low – we go high. Keep strong everyone! X’
2,000 workers are set to lose their jobs and crew shared poignant memories and their photos from their time there today
Tributes to the airline flooded social media as Flybe collapsed in chaotic circumstances, with passengers sent texts at 2am warning them of cancellations
Pilot Joakim Bosved wrote: ‘My favourite airline has officially ceased trading. I have flown for four year and one day, surrounded by amazing people I will miss deeply.’
Another wrote: ‘It’s with a heavy heart I have to say goodbye to some of the best colleagues, friends and mentors I could ever have asked for.
‘Flybe you were amazing and I’ll never forget my time flying for you.’
Another said: ‘Thinking of everyone I worked with at Flybe this morning.’
Another member of staff posted: ‘Absolutely devastated tonight. The thought of not being able to work with my amazing colleagues again is truly heartbreaking.
Unmanned check-in desks at Belfast City Airport today as Flybe, Europe’s biggest regional airline, collapsed into administration
Flybe workers take home boxes and tool cabinets from the Exeter head quarters of Flybe as it went to the wall late last night
‘I’ve had the best 4 1.2 yearsd working with Flybe and I’m absolutely heartbroken that it’s come to an end tonight.
‘I’ll cherish all the memories and friendships I’ve made. Love you all.’
The airline, which carried eight million passengers a year mainly in Britain, almost went bust last year but appeared to get a lifeline from the Government who pledges to forgo an £106million air passenger duty bill if the owners promised to pump in more cash.
But the agreement imploded amid confusion over whether EU competition rules Britain has signed up to until January 2021 made it impossible.
Many pilots and air crew were completely in the dark and only learned the company had gone bust from airport staff waiting with administrators after all planes were on the ground at 11pm last night.
Frank McCready, of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, was on Flybe’s final flight – a trip from Birmingham to Glasgow, diverted to Manchester in mid-air last night.
He said: ‘The staff were a bit confused getting mixed messages. They were told it was a refuelling issue. Then they found out from Manchester Airport staff that Flybe had been placed into administration. It was quite emotional and tough times as you can imagine.
‘The passengers were very patient and a collection was done among everyone on the plane for those affected. We were patient because I think we realised a delay for us is nothing compared to potential job losses. Everyone’s thoughts are with all the Flybe staff affected. Everyone’s main concerns are for them’.
Flybe’s demise, announced early on Thursday and blamed in part on a drop in demand caused by the coronavirus outbreak, sparked fierce condemnation from unions and opposition politicians, who criticised both the airline’s owners and the Government for failing to act to save it.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said everyone was ‘gutted’ about the news but added: ‘We really tried to do everything we could back at the turn of the year.
‘Unfortunately, with the situation that has developed with (coronavirus), an already weak company, I’m afraid, just hasn’t been able to survive.’
The carrier narrowly avoided going bust in January but has continued to lose money since then.
The airline announced in the early hours that it had ceased trading with immediate effect and that administrators had been appointed after crisis talks on Wednesday failed to secure a rescue package.
All Flybe flights and those operated by sister airline Stobart Air were cancelled but some other airlines and rail operators stepped in to offer help to stranded passengers and staff.
Flybe was bought by a consortium of Virgin Atlantic, Stobart Group and Cyrus Capital in February 2019, after running into earlier financial problems.
In a statement, chief executive Mark Anderson said the company had made ‘every possible attempt’ to avoid collapse but had been ‘unable to overcome significant funding challenges’.
‘The UK has lost one of its greatest regional assets,’ he said.
‘Flybe has been a key part of the UK aviation industry for four decades, connecting regional communities, people and businesses across the entire nation.’
Unions and politicians reacted angrily to the collapse of the company – which had a staff of around 2,000 – just weeks after it narrowly avoided going under.
In January, Flybe agreed a deal to defer tax payments of ‘less than £10 million’ with HM Revenue and Customs, while ministers pledged to review Air Passenger Duty (APD).
Passengers were taken off a plane at Manchester after hours of waiting on the tarmac
Passengers told of how they waited hours on their flight before being escorted off before the plane even took-off (pictured, passengers waiting at Manchester Airport)
But other airlines, including Ryanair and British Airways owner International Airlines Group (IAG), complained that the agreement breached EU competition law and state aid rules.
Oliver Richardson, national officer for major airline industry union Unite, said: ‘It is simply outrageous that the Government has not learned the lessons following the collapse of both Monarch and Thomas Cook, that the much promised airline insolvency review has still not materialised.
‘While other European countries are able to introduce measures to keep airlines flying when they enter administration, the UK remains unable or unwilling to do so.’
Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald said the loss of Flybe would cause ‘real anxiety’ throughout the country.
Flybe operated a high proportion of flights at a number of regional airports so its collapse will have a knock-on effect.
Labour MP Ben Bradshaw, whose constituency contains Exeter Airport, where Flybe had its headquarters, tweeted: ‘A devastating day for @flybe staff, uncertainty for passengers & a big blow to our local & regional economy.
‘Why did the Government say £flybe was vital to regional connectivity last month & promise to reform Air Passenger Duty in next week’s budget … to apparently break that promise, which was the last straw for the company.’
He added: ‘Johnson’s mantra of ‘levelling up’ our left-behind regions lies in tatters. Lost connectivity & the future of many regional airlines at risk.’
Manuel Cortes, leader of the Transport Salaried Staffs Association, said: ‘If the Government stands aside as Flybe goes to the wall then we will know ministers have learned absolutely nothing from the collapse of Thomas Cook last year.
‘Back in September, Boris Johnson said stepping in to save a cornerstone of the British high street amounted to a moral hazard. That was an outrage and it would be outrageous and needless to let Flybe go under. The Government should nationalise the airline now.
‘Johnson would do well to remember that this carrier connects regions around the UK which badly need investment after too many years of austerity. They do not need to lose yet more jobs, which would be a bitter economic blow.
‘The time for the Government to act is now; there should be no repeat of the shambles they created in dealing with Thomas Cook, which ended up with taxpayers footing a far higher bill than it would have cost to keep Thomas Cook afloat and thousands of hardworking people in their jobs.’
At Belfast City Airport, 81% of its flights were operated by the carrier and Colin Neill, chief executive of Hospitality Ulster, said: ‘This is simply devastating news for Northern Ireland.’
But Brian Ambrose, chief executive of Belfast City Airport, said he is confident the airport can fill the routes vacated by Flybe, as he revealed that multiple other carriers had already expressed an interest.
‘Our immediate feelings are with the staff of Flybe and our customers,’ he said.
‘It’s been a long relationship with Flybe, they are wonderful people.
‘We were meeting a lot of them coming off shift last night to discover they had lost their jobs, so our commitment to them is to rebuild this business and, as we do so, hopefully there will be opportunities for them with other airlines as we get the business back to where it should be.’
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