Flybe allays airport fears in wake of announcement

Flybe has allayed fears over the future of its operations at Cardiff airport, saying reports over cuts to jobs and services at the hub had been misconstrued.

The Exeter-based airline announced on Wednesday that it is to axe 300 jobs from its 3,000-strong UK workforce.

This week, it announced moves to restructure the business to offset the impact of rising fuel prices, Air Passenger Duty hikes and a decline in passenger numbers, with the business focused on cutting £35 million from its operating costs to stem its losses.

The announcement caused alarm among some politicians in Wales– with the Welsh Government due to complete its purchase of the airport very soon.

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But a spokesman for the airline reiterated there would be no change to its route network, adding: "While Flybe operate five routes from Cardiff they do not have a base here. There are no staffing [or] job loss implications for Wales."

Flybe employees and management will be informed later today where the redundancies will fall. It has confirmed that 95 jobs will be affected in Exeter, where it is understood that about half of the roles to be cut will be in engineering with the remainder being back office staff and managers.

Prospect, the union representing Flybe aircraft engineers has spoken out against the move, saying: "We have yet to be convinced that the combination of job losses and the outsourcing of line maintenance provides the answer."