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Flybe Travel/Flight Information
Cheap Flights on Flybe . Book online Flybe fares.
Flybe is Europe's largest regional airline and a true British success story, offering cheap flights to destinations across the UK and Europe.
However like many great things, the low-cost carrier grew from humble beginnings.
Flybe's history stretches back to 1979, when Jersey European Airways was formed and began operating regional flights from its base in Jersey.
With its distinctive orange and black livery, the aircraft operated by this early incarnation looked little like the Flybe planes that criss-cross Europe's skies today.
But Jersey European's Fokker F27s swiftly became popular among passengers and the airline grew and was snapped up by the Walkersteel group in 1983.
Initially jersey European operated separately from the other airline owned by the Walkersteel group, Spacegrand, but in 1985, the decision was taken to merge their operations under the Jersey European Airways brand name.
The new, larger airline moved its base of operations from Jersey to Exeter airport, which still serves as the headquarters for Flybe's operations today.
Success and growth continued into the 1990s and the airline bought six additional Fokker F27s as passenger numbers continued to increase.
A new appearance was launched in 1990, including a new multicoloured livery and new uniforms.
In 1991 the fast rowing airline gained its first London route and began operating regular scheduled flights from Jersey to London Gatwick.
1993 saw the airline acquiring three British Aerospace (BAe) 146 jet aircraft, a high wing design nicknamed the "Whisperjet" because it is very quiet compared to conventional aircraft.
Such was the popularity of the Whisperjets, which Jersey European used on routes from London to Belfast and London to the Channel Islands, that the airline acquired a fourth jet later in the year to operate services from Belfast to Birmingham.
That year also saw Jersey European introduce a business class on some of its services, making it the first UK regional airline to do so.
Such innovations may have helped Jersey European Airways to win the coveted title of best UK regional airline in 1993 and 1994 at the Northern Ireland Travel and Tourism awards.
In the years following the awards, the airline continued to grow, buying more BAe 146s and adding business lounges to Belfast City, Jersey and Guernsey Airports.
It operated a franchise partnership agreement with Air France which saw Jersey European aircraft flying from Birmingham and Glasgow to Paris Charles de Gaulle.
As the new millennium dawned, Jersey European's management decided to change the airline's name to reflect its ever increasing reach across the UK and throughout Europe and so British European Airways was born.
According to Flybe's website, "The rebrand reflected the true size and scope of what was now the UK's third-largest scheduled airline".
However a changing airline market and the increasing popularity of low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and EasyJet pushed British European to take a different tack in 2002, when the airline shortened its name to Flybe.
The transformation of the previously business-orientated airline was a success, as a series of awards and accolades proved.
In 2003, the year after its final rebranding, Flybe won the award for most recommended UK low fares airline from the consumer magazine Which?
2004 saw Flybe begin flights to France to tap into Brits taste for skiing and in 2005 Flybe ordered large numbers of new aircraft, including 26 brand new Embraer 195 aircraft and 20 Bombardier Aerospace Q400-78s.
The airline continued to go from strength to strength, buying up British Airways regional service, BA Connect, in 2006.
Earlier this year, the airline took over from British Airways as the franchise partner of Loganair, a Scottish regional airline.
Today Flybe operates 167 routes across 12 European countries.
The airline formerly known as Jersey European has come a long way carrying over seven million passengers last year, from 24 UK airports and 30 destinations throughout the continent.
Flybe says it believes in offering low airfares on its flights, but not low services, continuing to focus on the service it provides in order to satisfy its customers.
Earlier this year the airline won several coveted industry awards, including UK's most environmentally friendly carrier at the 2008 British Travel Awards.
It also became the first low-cost carrier to offer snacks designed by a celebrity chef on its services.
While Flybe may have come a long way from its humble beginnings, its focus on customer service and excellence in the air have remained unchanged and as it enters its 30th year of operations in 2009, it seems the airline has a bright future ahead of it.
If you want the very cheapest airfares that Flybe can offer, be sure to book through Major Travel.
Cheap Flights on Flybe . Book online Flybe fares.
Last updated: July 22, 2009
