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First business casualty of Coronavirus?

(32 Posts)
Chewbacca Thu 05-Mar-20 09:51:36

Collapsed Flybe tells passengers not to travel to airports

I saw that Flybe, who has been struggling for some time to survive, has today collapsed, 2000 people to lose their jobs and all flights suspended. We haven't had as many confirmed Coronavirus incidents as other countries and yet, already, it's impacted on an airline. Wonder how many more this will be the final straw for in an already difficult market?

lemongrove Thu 05-Mar-20 09:56:25

Yes, it will hit any struggling business won’t it, especially an airline or airport shop.
Flybe has been doing badly for a while but this virus is the ‘final nail’.
The High St will soon be hit too, sadly, cinemas, theatres, pubs and cafes.The ones doing well and ‘chains’ will ride it out but indie ones may close altogether.It’s a real problem
For economies across the world.

Kandinsky Thu 05-Mar-20 10:01:39

And people were worried about Brexit?
This virus will cause 1000x more economic damage, as well as Ill health.
I bet some people now wish brexit was all they had to worry about.

merlotgran Thu 05-Mar-20 10:08:29

Greta Thunberg, Harry, Meg, et al will soon be able to put their feet up and cease complaining campaigning.

The way things are going the skies will soon be a lot emptier. Only the rich and famous in their private jets will be able to travel.

Cruise ships will be feeling the pinch as well. Mind you, nothing in the world would get me on a floating prison with thousands of other people but each to their own.

I feel for small businesses. Life is a struggle for a lot of them without Coronavirus clobbering them. sad

jura2 Thu 05-Mar-20 10:09:04

the combination of the two will be even more devastating

henetha Thu 05-Mar-20 10:12:59

I'm booked to go to Ireland with Flybe next month, so it looks like I will have to hire a rowing boat.
I'm really sorry for all the staff who are losing their jobs.
It's a friendly airline and I've flown with them many times. They will be missed.

Chestnut Thu 05-Mar-20 10:18:04

I'm astonished that they stop so suddenly like that. Hundreds of people are stranded in the UK and abroad. Surely there is a way to continue with flights that have been booked for at least a week to enable people to reach their destinations.

Chewbacca Thu 05-Mar-20 10:19:48

I think cruise holiday companies will get hit very badly as people cancel or decide against booking cruise trips this year. Another cruise liner is being held in California with 3500 people on board.

Teacheranne Thu 05-Mar-20 10:25:06

Ive just had an email from my Financial Advisor ( no, I don't have lots of money but I had to use one to help me sort out my complicated pensions and the company now manage a couple of accounts) trying to reassure customers about the recent falls in the stock market. Apparently lots of people are panicking and selling shares as the prices drop. It looks as if the world markets are heading towards a recession due to the uncertainty of the impact of the corona virus.

Me, I'll just sit tight and hope for the best!

My nephew was tested yesterday as he is unwell following a school ski trip to N Italy. So as my sister is now self isolating until they get the results on Friday, I've had to drop all my plans to stand in as full time Carer for my mum who has Alzeimers.

Urmstongran Thu 05-Mar-20 10:35:34

Bet Richard Branson is cursing the 4 new cruise ships he commissioned. Timing eh?

Calendargirl Thu 05-Mar-20 11:52:41

Sad as we often flew with Flybe. I’m sure the Coronavirus is the last straw, but I should imagine things have been going downhill for a long time,

vegansrock Thu 05-Mar-20 15:42:12

Why the nasty swipe at Greta Thurnberg? Of course one small airline collapsing won’t mean a reversal of climate change. It’s a shame for people’s jobs but there are other airlines which may pick up the slack.

merlotgran Thu 05-Mar-20 15:49:19

but there are other airlines which may pick up the slack.

Can you guarantee they won't also run into trouble, vegansrock?

BlueBelle Thu 05-Mar-20 15:53:15

It has been said quite clearly on the news this morning that this is not a Coronavirus problem Flybe had been hanging on by a thread for sometime
So why make the headline of the thread a false statement

vegansrock Thu 05-Mar-20 15:55:35

Of course merlotgran I can’t guarantee other airlines won’t run into trouble, and I'm sure some of them will fold as well. But climate change isn’t only being caused by air travel., but much human activity. We have just had the warmest winter since records began, it’s definitely something to be concerned about rather than sneered at.

maddyone Thu 05-Mar-20 23:39:03

My sister was due to fly with Flybe to visit me in two weeks time, she’s now trying to book a train instead. I booked the flight for her so I’m trying to reclaim the money through my credit card. My sister will be 70 whilst she’s down, and she wanted to spend her special birthday with myself and our 92 year old mother.
Flybe announced it was in trouble in January, but as I understood it, the government promised financial support. However Flybe appears to have collapsed despite that support. I’m wondering whether any other airline will eventually take over some of the routes that Flybe operated as I think the loss of these routes will have a huge impact on both businesses and private individuals.

maddyone Thu 05-Mar-20 23:41:01

BlueBelle
Quite right, Flybe has been hanging on a thread for a while.

Chewbacca Thu 05-Mar-20 23:46:13

BlueBelle @ 15.53 So why make the headline of the thread a false statement?

Because, when I started this post @ 09.51 this morning the headlines on the BBC website said:

The Exeter-based carrier said the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on demand for air travel was partly to blame for its collapse.

And if you read the OP properly, you'll see that I that I stressed that Flybe had been struggling for some time but that this was the final straw for them. There was no false statement. hmm

Kalu Thu 05-Mar-20 23:49:01

Logan air will be taking on 16 former Flybe flights.

maddyone Thu 05-Mar-20 23:54:20

I saw news this morning that Flybe were blaming Coronavirus as the final straw, but as said earlier, they have been in difficulties for some time.

Chewbacca Fri 06-Mar-20 00:03:30

Thanks maddyone, I knew I hadn't dreamt it!

maddyone Fri 06-Mar-20 00:06:15

No, you definitely didn’t dream it.

M0nica Fri 06-Mar-20 08:01:22

Flybe has been struggling for a long time and several attempts to support them have been unsuccessful. Flybe would have collapsed, Corvid-19 or no Corvid-19.

On R4 news yesterday morning, someone from the aviation industry did a critique of the whole business model behind Flybe and it was clear that poor strategic management over the past decade was a major cause of its problems.

As for the managing director blaming Corvid-19 - well he would wouldn't he?

sodapop Fri 06-Mar-20 08:44:24

It's a shame about Flybe as so many people relied on it for internal and short haul flights. There will be a lot of collateral damage I'm afraid.
As has been said already Flybe were in difficulties long before this, the virus was just the final straw.

annsixty Fri 06-Mar-20 09:33:04

My D runs a small business, she has already been told by her insurer that she will not be covered for loss if she has to close, there is a loophole ,something to do with certain notifiable disease.
If staff self isolate she will have to pay SSP?
The nature of her business means she will have to take on other staff to continue.
If this happens she will go under “as sure as eggs is eggs”

She employs 6 people , all part time, they will all lose their jobs as will she.
She operates on a shoestring any way.
We are really worried as she is a single mother.