European regional carrier was purchased by consortium including Virgin Atlantic earlier this year >>
Flybe, the European regional airline that was purchased earlier this year by a consortium that included Virgin Atlantic, will become Virgin Connect. Mark Anderson, CEO of Connect Airways, the consortium, said the carrier will remain true to its heritage and reason for being, which is offering essential regional connectivity to local communities.
He said customers could expect the same “exceptional travel experience” as they do with other Virgin-related brands. He said the full rebranding would happen in 2020, though an exact date is not yet set. Until earlier this year, Flybe was the largest independent regional airline in Europe. It has a fleet of about 75 aircraft, including about 80 turboprops and 15 Embraer jets. Aside from Virgin Atlantic, the Connect Airways consortium includes Stobart Aviation and Cyrus Capital Partners.