Flybe says ‘no cancellations’ after thousands left stranded by grounded flights

‘We will be doing everything possible to avoid any further undue inconvenience to passengers,’ airline vows

After a day in which dozens of Flybe flights were cancelled, affecting an estimated 2,000 passengers, the airline says it does not expect any services to be grounded on Thursday.

Ten flights to and from Belfast City airport alone were cancelled, along with a range of UK regional and international flights.

Flybe, which was recently acquired by a consortium including Virgin Atlantic and Stobart Aviation, blamed a combination of factors for the cancellations – which, it said, amounted to 5 per cent of its services.

The airline’s chief executive, Christine Ourmières-Widener, said: “We are facing some problems due to pilot shortages but also seasonality and some restructuring we are doing on the network. We are working on mitigation action to solve the problem.”

Flybe is thought to be “wet-leasing” capacity – that is, hiring planes, pilots and cabin crew from other carriers.

Separately, the airline announced it will retire its fleet of six Embraer 195 aircraft at the end of the summer season, and close its bases in Cardiff, Doncaster Sheffield and Norwich.

Flights using Q400 propellor planes will continue to serve Cardiff and Doncaster Sheffield, and Flybe-branded planes belong to Eastern Airways will fly on from Norwich.

The jet fleet at Exeter, Flybe’s home base, will also be culled.

Ms Ourmières-Widener said: “Our fleet reduction has always been core to improving our profitability. 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.”

The general secretary of the British Airlines Pilots’ Association (Balpa), Brian Strutton, said: “Balpa will be working closely with the airline to ensure pilots’ jobs are protected and that this difficult process is handled as professionally as possible.”

There are concerns that the announcement might accelerate the rate at which pilots are leaving Flybe.