Training Example: Flybe – Review the Data, Give Your Score & Compare to the Real AI Evaluation

[H2] Welcome onboard
[H1] Flybe
Operating for over 40 years, Flybe was Europe's largest regional airline. Carrying millions of passengers annually, the airline was one of the first casualties of the pandemic.
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Rising from the ashes, a second airline operated for less than a year using Flybe's brand.
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Here, we preserve the brand's history and items related to the airline, as well as operate brand licencing for those wanting to utilise the Flybe brand and history.Read More
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[H1] The Basics
52Years operating as an airline
(19 under the Flybe brand)214Aircraft that operated under the Flybe brand80Airports operated from at its peak4Franchise partner airlines
[H2] Early Years
In 1969, Intra Airways was formed to operate charters from the Channel Islands with a single DC-3. The airline operated both cargo and passenger flights to continental Europe and the UK. The airline, whilst based in the Jersey, set up an engineering base in Exeter.
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A decade after the airline's formation, the carrier merged with Express Air Services to form Jersey European Airways. At the time the airline was operating DC-3s and Vickers Viscounts. Express Air Services was demerged to form Channel Express which, in 2002, became Jet2.
[H2] Jersey European Airways
In 1983, Jersey European Airways was sold to Walker Steel Group and operated alongside the group's Spacegrand Aviation. These airlines were later merged. Exeter had been the meeting point of the two airlines' route networks and so became the headquarters of the combined airline in 1985.
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Jersey European then embarked on significant expansion, carrying 460,000 passengers in 1990, up from 160,000 in 1985. London was added to the route network in 1991 with a route between Guernsey and Gatwick. Two years later the airline added jet aircraft, in the form of BAe 146s, as well as business class for the first time. By 1997, the airline had acquired a franchise for Air France, flying between Heathrow and Toulouse and Nice.
[H2] British European
To more accurately reflect the airline's route network the was renamed British European in 2000. At this point the airline operated a mix of BAe 146s, Bombardier Dash 8s and CRJ100s having disposed of the smaller Short 360s, Twin Otters and Fokker F-27s that were operated by JEA.
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At this point the airline was still operating as a full service carrier, as well as an Air France franchisee with both the CRJ100s and BAe 146s and was studying introducing larger aircraft with capacity of 100 plus passengers.
[H2] Flybe brand is born
In 2002, the airline was rebranded as Flybe. At this point, the airline started its journey to become Europe's largest regional airline. The carrier pivoted to become a full service but low cost carrier. This maintained the onboard product but introduced discounted one way fares, abolished overbooking and introduced a customer charter. Over time, the carrier became more of a traditional low cost carrier, reducing service onboard.
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In 2005, Flybe became the launch customer for the Embraer 195, operating the first example a year later. Initially assigned to the airline's busiest trunk routes, the carrier reassigned them to new routes later.
[H2] BA Connect Acquisition
In 2006, the carrier announced an agreement to acquire BA Connect, formerly BA CitiExpress, from British Airways to aid expansion. Due to the loss making nature of the carrier, BA would pay Flybe to take the carrier and take up a shareholding in the expanded carrier. BA retained the Avro RJ fleet and the London City operations, which became BA CityFlyer.
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BA Connect had been formed from several carriers over the past couple of decades to form an extensive regional operation. Brymon Airways, British Regional Airlines and Manx Airways were all folded into the carrier. BA Connect introduced buy on board products though maintained other full service characteristics. The carrier was the first to utilised print at home boarding passes introducing self service check in to the industry.
[H2] The 2010s
During its final decade, Flybe adapted the network and fleet multiple times in an attempt to find profitability. London Gatwick slots were sold but services to London City and Heathrow were started later. In 2013, when Saad Hammad took over as CEO, roughly 40% of the operated routes were loss making.
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After floating during an IPO in 2010, the company was valued at £215 million. Flybe sold 24.4 million shares at 295p a share, half of which went to fund fleet expansion. By 2014, BA's shareholding had been diluted from 15% to 5% via share issues and the flag carrier exited the airline, selling its shares.
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In 2014, the airline livery was changed, painting the aircraft purple with the new taglines "Fastest Way from A to FlyBe" and " Faster than Road or Rail" painted on the engines.
[H2] Flybe Nordic
In 2011, Flybe and Finnair set up a joint venture, purchasing Finncomm Airlines and rebranding it as Flybe Nordic. The airline operated ATRs around Scandinavia on behalf of Finnair.
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By 2014, Flybe was attempting to reduce costs and sold its 60% stake in Flybe to Finnair. This was completed the following year for a symbolic purchase price of one Euro. The airline was renamed Nordic Regional Airlines, abbreviated to Norra, at this point.
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In 2018, Finnair sold on the 60% holding to Danish Air Transport. The airline still operates regionally on behalf of Finnair with ATRs and E-Jets.
[H2] Franchises &  Wet Leasing
From 2008, Flybe expanded their operations through franchising operations to other carriers. Loganair was the first carrier to operate in Flybe colours after their BA franchise came to an end. In 2017, the partnership came to an acrimonious end over onboard service level disagreements. Loganair restarted operations as an independent carrier, whilst Flybe enlisted Eastern Airways to operate franchise operations in direct competition with Loganair. Many of these routes were self destructive, operating at significant loss before Flybe ceded the routes back to Loganair. ATR operators Stobart Air and Blue Islands also operated franchises under the Flybe banner during this period.
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Flybe also offered wet lease services during this period with aircraft leased out to airlines such as Olympic Air and Brussels Airlines along with their crews.
[H2] Connect Airways Takeover
Flybe's value had collapsed over the decade. Franchisee Stobart Air had bid for the airline in early 2018 but was rebuffed. By late 2018, the share price had fallen by such an extent that the airline put itself up for sale.
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A consortium formed of Virgin Atlantic, Stobart Air and Cyrus Capital Partners, Connect Airways successfully negotiated a purchase agreement valuing the airline at only £2.8 million.
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Assets were sold to the consortium leaving the original Flybe holding company as a shell, which was then sold in March 2019, despite short lived competing bids from Stobart's CEO and from Mesa Airlines.
[H2] Collapse
By January 2020, Flybe was once again struggling financially having exhausted the bridging loan from the consortium. Negotiations with the UK government deferred Flybe's tax obligations and there was hope of a rescue loan in February.
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By early March, however, the Covid-19 pandemic was starting to impact the state of the industry. The proposed rescue loan was rejected and on the 5th of March, all operations, including the merged Stobart Air's, ceased and administrators were appointed to liquidate the company. After just over 50 years, the final Flybe flights landed and the aircraft were impounded.
[H2] Flybe Reborn
After the original Flybe's collapse, the brand was sold by the administrators to Thyme Opco in 2020, with the aim to relaunch the airline. The airline eventually launched operations between Birmingham and Belfast in April 2023. The reincarnated airline continued the tradition of the original, operating Dash 8 aircraft regionally around the UK and Europe.
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Less than a year later, administrators were again appointed in January 2023. The airline had burned through its start up capital and was losing between 4 and 5 million pounds per month. The airline had been plagued by operational difficulties and late aircraft deliveries before its collapse.

[H2] Flybe II
Rising from the ashes in April 2022, the airline planned to operate 32 de Havilland Canada Dash 8 aircraft.

However, by January 2023, with a fleet of only nine, financial losses lead to the airline entering administration.
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[H1] Flybe
Renamed Flybe in 2002, the airline continued growing, and with the purchase of BA Connect, became the largest regional airline in Europe.
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The fleet was focused on the Bombardier Dash 8, operating almost 100 of them over two decades. The airline retired a variety of inherited types then introduced Embraers, including acting as the launch customer for the E195.
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[H2] Flybe Nordic
Flybe Nordic was a joint venture airline set up by Finnair and Flybe in 2011.
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The airline operated ATR and E170 aircraft before Flybe sold their shares to Finnair for a symbolic €1 in 2014.
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[H2] British European
A short lived rebrand, British European operated from 2000 to 2002 before being adapted to Flybe. The name was intended to reflect better the scope of the routes operated beyond Jersey.
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During this period, the airline operated Dash 8s, BAe 146s and CRJ-100s, some on behalf of Air France.
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[H2] Jersey European Airways
Formed through the merger of Intra Airways and Express Air Services, Jersey European Airways. The airline started operating with Dakota DC-3s and Vickers Viscounts.

These were replaced with BAe 146s, a small fleet of Short 330s, Twin Otters and eventually Dash 8s.
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[H2] Intra Airways
Founded in 1969, Intra Airways operated passenger and cargo charters, initially with a single DC-3.

Ten years later when the airline merged with Express Air Services, the airline had a fleet of seven Dakotas and three Viscounts.
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[H2] Express Air Services
Merged with Intra Airways in 1979 to form Jersey European Airways. This airline was based at Bournemouth with a fleet of Handley Page Heralds.
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The airline demerged in 1983 to form Channel Express, that later became Jet2.
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[H2] BA Connect
Renamed in 2002, British Airways CitiExpress amalgamated all of British Airways' regional subsidiaries under one airline. This airline operated Embraer 145s, BAe 146s, Dash 8s as well as older ATPs and Jetstreams.
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In 2006, the airline was again renamed to BA Connect and was reduced to a low cost operating model with a buy on board programme.
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The airline operated a variety of aircraft with the majority transferred to Flybe during the 2007 merger. Adding the EMB-145 and Dash 8s to Flybe's fleet led to Flybe being Europe's largest regional airline. The Avro RJ100s remained along with the London City Base to form BA CityFlyer.
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British Airways became a shareholder in Flybe due to this takeover and had to pay Flybe to take on the loss making airline due to the impact it would have on Flybe's profits.
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[H2] Brymon Airways
Brymon Airways was formed in the early 1970s operating Twin Otters out of Plymouth.
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Later in its existence, it operated Dash 7 aircraft, the first airline to operate them in the UK. Brymon landed one of these aircraft at Heron Quays in London in 1982 to prove the viability of London City Airport and was the first airline to operate there in 1987.
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In 1984, British Airways acquired a minority share in the company before purchasing it outright in 1992. The airline started operating Bombardier Dash 8s and Embraer ERJ-145s on behalf of British Airways.
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After merging with Manx Airlines, the airline was renamed BA CitiExpress.
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[H2] Birmingham European Airways
Birmingham European Airways started operations with three Jetstreams in 1983.
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A single Saab 340 was introduced in 1985 but was replaced quickly by Gulfstream I's. Finally the airline operated BAC 1-11s.
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At the end of 1992, the airline merged with Brymon to form Brymon European Airways before being demerged six months later and sold to Maersk.
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[H2] Manx Airlines
Manx Airlines, based in the Isle of Man, started operations in 1982 with an EMB 110 Banderiante operating to Glasgow.
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For the next five years, the fleet consisted of Short 330/360 and Vickers Viscount with a Saab 340 leased in to fly to Heathrow.
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Fleet renewal led to Jetstreams, ATP and BAe146 aircraft joining the fleet.
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In 2002, Manx's fleet was integrated into BA CitiExpress.
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[H2] Spacegrand Aviation
Spacegrand Aviation was a small airline that offered charter and regular services utilising mostly Twin Otters from the late 1980s until it was merged into Jersey European Airways.
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[H2] Franchises
From 2007 until the demise of the original Flybe, the airline operated a franchise system with partner airlines.
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This started with Loganair, fresh from a British Airways franchise, operating services around Scotland. This added Saab 340 and 2000s as well as Suckling Airways' Dornier 328s to the Flybe family.
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This partnership ended acrimoniously a decade later with Loganair branching out on its own and replaced by Eastern Airways with Jetstreams and ATRs.
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Midway through the 2010s, Stobart Air and Blue Islands would add further ATRs to the franchised Flybe fleet.
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[H2] Wet Leases
Throughout its existence, and its predecessor airlines, Flybe has operated aircraft on behalf of other airlines under wet lease arrangements.
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The airline has operated Dash 8s on behalf of airlines including Brussels Airlines and Olympic Airlines. Predecessors operated BAe 146s on behalf of airlines such as Air France.
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At times the airlines have also hired in aircraft under wet lease agreements. These have included from CityJet, Astraeus Airlines, Marathon Airlines, Carpatair and Stobart Air.
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[H1] Brand Licensing
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