Flybe considers launching new Irish routes

Regional airline Flybe will consider launching new services from the Republic to follow the launch of its Dublin-London City route, where it will be taking on Cityjet and British Airways, according to its chief executive, Saad Hammad.

Mr Hammad said yesterday that forward bookings on the new service were in line with what the airline had forecast when it originally decided to launch the route last April.

He added that as a result of the Government’s decision to ditch the €3 travel tax and news indicating that the economy may be turning around, the airline sees the Republic as a potential growth market.

Flybe recently signed an interline deal with Aer Lingus that will allow travellers on the airline's flights from Britain to Dublin to connect on to the Irish carrier's transatlantic services using the same ticket.

Asked if the airline was concerned about the current over Dublin Airport passenger charges involving the industry, regulator and the Government, Mr Hammad said at “a macro level”.

“We have been following it, but it’s a local issue,” he said, adding that the company believed it had got the right deal in terms of its own charges.

Under contract

Unlike many of its services from the Republic, which are operated under contract by Logan Air and Stobart, Flybe will operate the Dublin-London City route itself using its own craft. Mr Hammad acknowledged that it was facing a challenge in the form of existing operator Cityjet and British Airways, which is planning to launch on the same route.

“We are going to be very competitive against the incumbent on the route, Cityjet, it is going to be end up being hugely competitive,” he said.

The airline is targeting business travellers with four flights a-day, starting at 7am with the last one at 7.20pm. Its chief executive pointed out that the flights land in London and “not some place in Essex” .