Yahoo Finance Flybe CEO tells employees of ‘deep feeling of sorrow’ over collapse
The chief executive of Flybe wrote to his employees moments before the regional airline fell into administration to tell them of his sadness over the company’s collapse.
In an email to staff in the early hours of Thursday morning, Mark Anderson said that he shared the news of the administration “with enormous sadness and a deep feeling of sorrow.”
“Despite every effort, we now have no alternative — having failed to find a feasible solution to allow us to keep trading.”
Some 2,400 jobs at Flybe are now at risk, after the coronavirus fallout pushed the already flagging Flybe into administration on Thursday morning.
Administrators from financial services firm EY were appointed earlier this morning to oversee the process.
Read more: Coronavirus pushes flagging Flybe into collapse, risking 2,000 jobs
“I do appreciate how distressing this news is and the shock and numbness that you will be feeling,” Anderson wrote.
“Despite your hard work, commitment and some amazing results which we have delivered, and have been achieving up to the last day of operation — particularly for our customers who depend on us across the country, we have come to the end of the road,” he said.
Anderson said that the coronavirus fallout, which has sapped demand across the airline industry, “put additional pressure on an already difficult situation.”
“I am very sorry that we have not been able to secure the funding needed to continue to deliver our turnaround plan.”
Flybe had requested a £100m loan from the government, but this idea was rejected.
Read more: What to do if you are a Flybe employee or passenger
Anderson took over as CEO of Connect Airways, the consortium that owns Flybe, in July.
The consortium is backed by Virgin Atlantic, Stobart Aviation, and Cyrus Capital Partners.
“Although I have only had the honour of being your CEO for 8 months, it’s been an incredible privilege to lead such an amazing team of people and the Flybe family,” Anderson wrote.
“I am just so sorry that we have not been able to see this through. I feel so proud of you and want to take this opportunity to thank you and wish you the very best for the future.”
