Flybe demise no surprise, analysts say

The second collapse of regional UK airline Flybe was unsurprising as it was “struggling” since before the coronavirus pandemic and the industry-crippling travel curbs that ensued, according to aviation analysts at IBA. Further “consolidation” in the the industry is likely, IBA warned, with recent quarterly results showing “strong” low-cost carriers such as Ryanair likely to further squeeze regional operators and “weak” rivals as travel revives to pre-Covid number. Flybe’s plight  – it could only attain a 10% seat share on routes it operated – was made worse by what IBA said was a “ridiculous” double taxation on domestic UK flights.