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Flybe says Bombardier Q400 is the best core aircraft for its fleet

Published: 17:04 16 May 2018 AEST

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Flybe said its strategy is to reduce its overall fleet and to concentrate on profitable routes only

Flybe Group PLC (LON:FLYB) has announced that Bombardier Q400 is the best core aircraft for its current and future needs and it will remain as the backbone of the company’s fleet for the foreseeable future.

After a comprehensive review of regional aircraft options, the company has concluded that the Q400 is faster than the alternative turboprops, with a performance close to jet aircraft over the relatively short sectors, is cheaper to operate than similar-sized jet aircraft and has a much smaller noise footprint.  

READ: Flybe revenues hit by ‘Beast from the East’ but summer trading ‘encouraging’

However, Flybe will continue to operate a number of Embraer E175 jets for longer or busier routes.

Flybe said its strategy is to reduce its overall fleet and to concentrate on profitable routes only. With a further planned handback of all nine Embraer 195 jets, the overall fleet is well on the way to reducing in size from 85 at its peak in May 2017, to a target of around 70 aircraft by early 2020.

Flybe CEO, Christine Ourmières-Widener said: “We examined exhaustively all the options and concluded the Bombardier Q400 is the best core aircraft for us.”

“Its superior economy, speed and quietness is ideal for a regional airline such as ourselves. Together with a number of Embraer E175s, our future fleet will be the optimum required for our specific regional route network."

 

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