What is your opinion on whether or not the Government should have saved Flybe from collapse? Given the nature of the out of the way regions of the UK which this airline services, how does this tie in with the Tories promising the electorate prior to the General Election that they are the party who will expand the connectivity between all the outlying regions if the UK? Flybe accounts for 95% of all flights at Southampton and 75% of flights at George Best Belfast City Airports. Northern Ireland are already at a disadvantage due to us having a body of water between us and mainland GB, the alternative sea crossing, time consuming and exorbitantly expensive, as well as requiring lengthy road journeys to reach destinations in England and Scotland.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.I think it is a great pity that they were not given the same treatment as the failing banks. We are connected by the internet, but that accounts for 3% of carbon emissions worldwide (the same level as the aeronautical industry). And there are times when we need to be somewhere in person. Bus companies have to keep uneconomical routes open as part of their franchise, but can adjust other fares to cover that expense. A competent government should be able to find a way of doing the same in the case of flying.
Red_Cat
Level 7
Mar 6, 2020
1
As I’ve already cited...Norway does it.
@Marionville Do they use different sizes of planes of different routes?
@Red_Cat. Yes..they use smaller ones on the remote routes where they carry fewer passengers.
@Marionville Are they prop driven, the small ones? Update: Just checked for myself, and they do include prop driven planes and also helicopters for viewing fjords. Very inviting 
@Red_Cat a. I’m not sure of the details or specifics of the Norwegian fleet of aircraft, they have several airlines operating internal air services. Possibly the smaller ones are turbo props..
@Marionville Thanks for replying. I decided not to be lazy and check for myself: see edited post above yours.
As someone who uses the Flybee to The I.o.M. once every two or three years and even then uses easy jet also I do not expect much difference and expect the other Airlines will fill their boots. I will be worried if someone [of mine] pops their clogs over there and I have to book at short notice.
Mcflewster
Level 8
Mar 5, 2020
1
I’m sure the IOM route will be picked up by another carrier, but other more remote parts will not seem such an attractive proposition. See my response below to Matt.
Sometimes the invisible hand of the market is a fist. I would perhaps have quite liked to so a publicly owned regional air service. However the competition would have moaned. Other airlines will take over some of the more promising routes. If subsidies are required to keep the regions connected then they should be offered on the basis route rather than carrier. However long term investment requires stability and with such a capricious government you don't know if promises like that would be met.
MattHardy
Level 7
Mar 5, 2020
1
I have no doubt that the more popular and economically viable routes will be picked up, however it’s the other ones that I’m particularly concerned about.
Norway is a vast country and because of the distances involved air travel is normal....they have 50 airports all over, even in the remotest parts. Air travel is subsidised by the Norwegian government on the uneconomical routes in order for them not to be disadvantaged. Market forces and economics should not be the only consideration as to the viability of a route, a coherent social policy must also be taken into consideration and that has to be taken at national and regional levels of government, not left to the private sector.
@Marionville There is a "road equivalent" tariff on the ferries to the western Isles in Scotland. Perhaps uneconomic air routes shoud have a similar subsidy
@Marionville Yes I agree entirely. Subsidising routes gets a thumbs up from me. My only additional point was that the UK gov is at a disadvantage in attracting investment to subsidised routes given its history of promise breaking and mantra of "Fuck Business"
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