Tue, 20 Oct 2020 | BUSINESS SALE
Regional airline Flybe, which collapsed following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, could be set to fly again as soon as next year after administrators struck a deal to sell the business.
Administrators EY say they have sold the airline’s business and remaining assets, including its intellectual property, stock, equipment and brand to Thyme Opco, an affiliate company of Cyrus Capital. Cyrus was previously part of a consortium with Virgin Atlantic that pumped money into Flybe in January 2019.
A statement from EY read: "While the transaction is still subject to certain confidential conditions, the deal is expected to allow the Flybe business to restart operations as a regional airline in the UK under the Flybe brand in early 2021.”
"Following today's announcement, the administrators will work together with Thyme Opco, the Flybe management team and the UK Civil Aviation Authority to prepare for the relaunch of Flybe's airline operations."
Joint administrator Simon Edel said: “The restart of this iconic brand, which was once Europe’s largest regional airline, will provide a potentially significant boost to aviation jobs, regional connectivity and local economies.”
Flybe was previously the largest independent regional airline Europe, operating from 81 EU and UK airports, carrying around 8 million passengers annually, with 210 routes covering 15 countries. However, it had long-running financial issues, with the early impact of COVID-19 on air travel proving the final straw. Its collapse in early March saw the loss of around 2,400 jobs.
It is expected that Flybe will relaunch as a leaner business than it was pre-collapse and would likely seek to focus on the most profitable routes, with the COVID-19 pandemic still severely impacting demand in the aviation sector. It is also unclear how many roles will be created by the revival of the airline.
A spokesperson for Thyme Opco said: "We are extremely excited about the opportunity to relaunch Flybe. The airline is not only a well-known UK brand, it was also the largest regional air carrier in the EU, so while we plan to start off smaller than before, we expect to create valuable airline industry jobs, restore essential regional connectivity in the UK and contribute to the recovery of a vital part of the country's economy."
Find businesses for sale here.
If you are looking for an exit, we can help!
Confidential sale of a well-established lettings & estate agent in Leeds. The business has been trading for many years and has built up a fantastic reputation with hundreds of positive google reviews.
The business has been operating for over 20 years and has built up a fantastic reputation in their area. Boasting a portfolio of 700 and adding properties under management.
The company has traded for 16 years, based in the Northwest and operating nationally providing temporary staff to large corporate clients.
Please choose your settings for this site below. For more information please read our Cookie Policy
These cookies are necessary for our website to function properly and provide you with access to all features.
These are analytics cookies that help us to improve the way our website works.
These are used to improve the functional performance of the website and make it easier for you to use.