Flybe to be planned to rebranded as Virgin Connect next year.
The press release is live at https://virginconnect.co.uk/

Going to be nice to see the Virgin livery on the small birds, but also sad to see the purple go.

Will they all be repainted at once, or slowly throughout the year? If its to be the latter, the airline will have 4 different liveries at once!

Wonder what will happen to the FlyBE franchisees ... Eastern, Blue Islands, etc

Can't wait to see a Q400 in VS colors! I wonder if service onboard will change at all along with the branding.

TUGMASTER wrote:

Wonder what will happen to the FlyBE franchisees ... Eastern, Blue Islands, etc

Good point. Stobart and Flybe are very happy with the franchise agreement with Blue Islands, and would like to keep it. If Stobart has their way it will stay, it's just a matter of seeing if the Virgin Connect part of the operation agree.

I'm slightly taken aback at how low key this announcement was today. No champagne launch, no aircraft reveal (real one or model), no fanfare at all certainly no 'bearded one'. Despite his relinquishing control he still makes a reasonable 'Colonel Saunders' for the press conferences. The Virgin Connect webpage is also somewhat lacking in dynamicism.

Maybe with ongoing Flybe route slashing and concerns about Stobart Group finances in the news this past few days, all is not a glorious as it first looked ?

gatibosgru wrote:

Going to be nice to see the Virgin livery on the small birds, but also sad to see the purple go.

Maybe the purple will stay, along with adding the Virgin red tail. Purple is part of the Virgin colour scheme inside cabins (mood lighting, plastic glasses in Y) and used to feature in the cabin crew uniform until the latest iteration. Never really liked the new BE all purple look, but some purple could work, e.g. titles “connect”.

Looking forward to seeing what this venture brings and how it’ll be integrated particularly for VS/DL/KL/AF connecting passengers

spud757 wrote:

gatibosgru wrote:

Going to be nice to see the Virgin livery on the small birds, but also sad to see the purple go.

Maybe the purple will stay, along with adding the Virgin red tail. Purple is part of the Virgin colour scheme inside cabins (mood lighting, plastic glasses in Y) and used to feature in the cabin crew uniform until the latest iteration. Never really liked the new BE all purple look, but some purple could work, e.g. titles “connect”.

Looking forward to seeing what this venture brings and how it’ll be integrated particularly for VS/DL/KL/AF connecting passengers

They already said that red would replace the purple. My money's on a carbon copy of the Little Red livery, flat red painted tail on a largely white fuselage with billboard 'Virgin Connect' titles. Question is of course which aircraft goes for repainting first ? Possibly one of the quasi Brussels Airlines liveried Q400's ?

spud757 wrote:

gatibosgru wrote:

Going to be nice to see the Virgin livery on the small birds, but also sad to see the purple go.

Maybe the purple will stay, along with adding the Virgin red tail. Purple is part of the Virgin colour scheme inside cabins (mood lighting, plastic glasses in Y) and used to feature in the cabin crew uniform until the latest iteration. Never really liked the new BE all purple look, but some purple could work, e.g. titles “connect”.

Looking forward to seeing what this venture brings and how it’ll be integrated particularly for VS/DL/KL/AF connecting passengers

They already said that red would replace the purple. My money's on a carbon copy of the Little Red livery, flat red painted tail on a largely white fuselage with billboard 'Virgin Connect' titles. Question is of course which aircraft goes for repainting first ? Possibly one of the quasi Brussels Airlines liveried Q400's ?

2 Props 2 Hop

sw733 wrote:

2 Props 2 Hop

That is spot on mate. Love it.

And out of business in 2021

sw733 wrote:

2 Props 2 Hop

MaverickM11 wrote:

And out of business in 2021

I surely hope not, but VS's past experiences say otherwise.

Can't wait to see exactly how they change things up.

Virgin Connect sounds like one of their mobile plans.

Exciting times - do wish regional carriers would come up with some better branding than the generic; Link, express, connect tag lines.

Looking forward to hearing more their longer term strategy.

This is, what, the 4th attempt by VS at a shorthaul operation?

Not a pretty legacy.... I wonder if alliance assistance and J/Vs will be the difference this time?

With Delta Atlantic...err...Virgin holding 30%, I wonder how much counsel they'll receive from the folks in ATL?

Aeromexico Connect... time for a Virgin Connect in a soon to be a Skyteam member?

thekorean wrote:

Virgin Connect sounds like one of their mobile plans.

Sounds more like a hook up app.

LAX772LR wrote:

This is, what, the 4th attempt by VS at a shorthaul operation?

Not a pretty legacy.... I wonder if alliance assistance and J/Vs will be the difference this time?

I agree. Why did VS believe this is a good idea? What is the strategy?

asuflyer wrote:

Flybe to be planned to rebranded as Virgin Connect next year.
The press release is live at https://virginconnect.co.uk/

“At its heart, Virgin Connect will be passionately focused on becoming Europe's most loved and successful regional airline. It will offer travel that is simple and convenient with the personal touch. Our customers will naturally expect the same exceptional travel experience as they do with other Virgin-related brands. Whatever their reason for flying, we want our customers to feel loved and know we will always put their needs first in every decision we take.“

Is there a long way to go to accomplish this in terms of service and scale? Growth plans? Acquisitions?

questions wrote:

LAX772LR wrote:

This is, what, the 4th attempt by VS at a shorthaul operation?

Not a pretty legacy.... I wonder if alliance assistance and J/Vs will be the difference this time?

I agree. Why did VS believe this is a good idea? What is the strategy?

This time around they aren’t starting from scratch.

thekorean wrote:

questions wrote:

LAX772LR wrote:

This is, what, the 4th attempt by VS at a shorthaul operation?

Not a pretty legacy.... I wonder if alliance assistance and J/Vs will be the difference this time?

I agree. Why did VS believe this is a good idea? What is the strategy?

This time around they aren’t starting from scratch.

But how much incremental feed for VS, DL, AF/KL?

Virgin Connect sounds like a dating app.

Luftymatt wrote:

TUGMASTER wrote:

Wonder what will happen to the FlyBE franchisees ... Eastern, Blue Islands, etc

Good point. Stobart and Flybe are very happy with the franchise agreement with Blue Islands, and would like to keep it. If Stobart has their way it will stay, it's just a matter of seeing if the Virgin Connect part of the operation agree.

The first ATRs of those two will be going into full Virgin livery from next year. Full overhaul of the cabins too.

I see Delta's new plans going well- perhaps they can make VS shorthaul actually work this time.

Virgin Connect is not Virgin Atlantic Connect, is it? Apart from being 30% owned by the VS holding company. So nothing changes really apart from the name.

gatibosgru wrote:

Going to be nice to see the Virgin livery on the small birds

I agree - will remind me of their Vickers Viscounts... somehow...

Seems like we wont be seeing the livery before the rest of the branding is up and running .

Time to dig this out again.

So basically, the cynic in me tells me we'll see

LHR - MAN / EDI / DUB ? on Virgin Connect to try and compete with BA and all the other FlyBe 'local routes' killed off?

Virgin Group have zero interest in anything in and out of BHX so that'll be the end of FlyBe / VC ops from there too?

I'm baffled and confused. Very. I can't see how an airline that is debt-ridden and has at best an over-expanded and pretty much haphazard route system that flies in and out depressed regional centres can be turned into a successful outfit that can somehow magically "connect" to the 'Virgin world'.

And to those who think that there is DL in the back, somehow dictating a market strategy, I say that [unfortunately] this is not the case. I'm sure that plenty of people in ATL will be scratching their heads hoping a bunch of Brits will be doing their homework well this time....

Calling it now.. this won't end well.

'Virgin Connect' .... connect to which VS flights exactly? They have 5 destinations from Heathrow: Aberdeen, Edinburgh, New Quay, Guernsey and Isle of Man. Nice destinations, all of them, but even together they are hardly likely to be huge feeders for VS' LHR operation. Plus, BE operate out of T2, not T3 - let's hope it's a better connection experience than Little Red, but my hopes are not high.

I think it’s going to be fascinating to see what they have planned from a network perspective and also the p2p perspective.

I could see distinctions between the branding / product depending on what they are aiming for. Remember Virgin Connect is owned 30% by VS, 30% by Stobart and 40% by Cyrus Capital.

For example, they have 4 “hubs”’to aim for at LHR, MAN, AMS, CDG with major operations by VS, DL, AF, KL. I could see the product offering to, from, and between those points as being the full fat Virgin Connect product, perhaps with new aircraft in time.

Meanwhile, I could see the traffic to, from and between the other points in the legacy FlyBe network that survive being operated by the Stobart part of the business (perhaps without the branding).

Whether this works, time will tell, as posters have identified there is a lot of work to be done. I assume the mid-term intention is for Cyrus to Exit the consortium (with a tidy profit) enabling VS and Stobart to own 50% each. If that is the position in 4-7 years it will likely have gone okay.

Lots of negativity from the armchair CEO's on here.

Flybe did have a mash of unprofitable routes because they wanted to be the best regional carrier offering regular domestic routes to attract the business customer. They were also stuck with the terrible deals they had on the E95 jets that did them no favours on the balance books.
VS need regional feed to boost their network and catchment to compete with BA, amongst others. The previous short haul VS networks weren't a regional feed for VS in the way that Connect could be. Little red was a knee jerk reaction to get hold of slots on an aircraft that was too big to feed a not very big route offering from LHR.
With the Q400's being half the capacity and potential to grow MAN as a hub with some regional feed in to LHR on a smaller more economical aircraft this could well work for VS, especially now VS's main competition at MAN (TCX) is no longer.
With Stobart being involved that have always wanted to grow their regional flying, many unprofitable routes have been chopped and the regional network that isn't going to feed VS has been fine tuned and hopefully with a quick rebrand Connect can make it work. Flybe was a haphazard of routes and poor customer service decisions, namely the recent hand baggage charges issues that has turned opinion of them toxic. Now that Flybe has rinsed it's customers with these charges and probably made a hefty sum of it, VS can hopefully turn the brand around and try and win back customers with the VS fresh customer focused feel.
The issue long term though, is if Connect can make certain regional networks work, I can't imagine EZY will be far behind on the patch if the market is there.

vhtje wrote:

'Virgin Connect' .... connect to which VS flights exactly? They have 5 destinations from Heathrow: Aberdeen, Edinburgh, New Quay, Guernsey and Isle of Man. Nice destinations, all of them, but even together they are hardly likely to be huge feeders for VS' LHR operation. Plus, BE operate out of T2, not T3 - let's hope it's a better connection experience than Little Red, but my hopes are not high.

I think they are planning significant changes to the route network, for both Virgin Connect but to some extent also Virgin Atlantic. Heathrow is Heathrow, it will be O/D for Virgin Atlantic there until the 3rd runway, but it wouldn't surprise me if they establish a second major hub at a secondary UK airport and start feeding into there from the rest of Europe and UK.

vhtje wrote:

'Virgin Connect' .... connect to which VS flights exactly? They have 5 destinations from Heathrow: Aberdeen, Edinburgh, New Quay, Guernsey and Isle of Man. Nice destinations, all of them, but even together they are hardly likely to be huge feeders for VS' LHR operation. Plus, BE operate out of T2, not T3 - let's hope it's a better connection experience than Little Red, but my hopes are not high.

LHR isn't the only airport with VS flights.

MAN has MCO, JFK, LAS, LAX, BGI, ATL, BOS (DL from S20). Add into that the fall of TCX and the opportunities that has opened up at MAN whether that be on DL or VS metal, also the continued void of and Indian route since the demise of Jet. Oh and not to mention the extensive existing Flybe network in operation at MAN, which whilst might need tweaking as we have seen with some cuts, they have all the tools to make a hub type operation at MAN. Add in the factor DL is basically running VS now and fill me with more confidence to make the right decisions than VS would standalone.

When they first announced the takeover of Flybe, they said it was to feed existing VS networks of LHR, LGW and MAN.

Virgin Connect isn't just about LHR

vhtje wrote:

'Virgin Connect' .... connect to which VS flights exactly? They have 5 destinations from Heathrow: Aberdeen, Edinburgh, New Quay, Guernsey and Isle of Man. Nice destinations, all of them, but even together they are hardly likely to be huge feeders for VS' LHR operation. Plus, BE operate out of T2, not T3 - let's hope it's a better connection experience than Little Red, but my hopes are not high.

Maybe they are planning on focusing on MAN and grow there along with VS and make MAN the VS connecting hub.

Well it looks as if Manchester will have a lot of red tails by next year, bring it on!

Well it looks as if Manchester will have a lot of red tails by next year, bring it on!

I hope Little Purple lasts longer than Little Red.

I don't think anyone is in any doubt that something had to happen at BE in order to survive, so I wish them luck. It must finally be the end of routes likes SOU FAO/AGP though?

questions wrote:

thekorean wrote:

Virgin Connect sounds like one of their mobile plans.

Sounds more like a hook up app.

They should not ended Virgin Red few years before

thekorean wrote:

questions wrote:

LAX772LR wrote:

This is, what, the 4th attempt by VS at a shorthaul operation?

Not a pretty legacy.... I wonder if alliance assistance and J/Vs will be the difference this time?

I agree. Why did VS believe this is a good idea? What is the strategy?

This time around they aren’t starting from scratch.

They didn't start from scratch with Virgin Express, that was based on the acquisition of EuroBelgian Airlines. Virgin Express lasted 8 years before being sold.

Virgin Connect has every opportunity to integrate FlyBe's existing network into SKYTEAM hubs at AMS, CDG, LHR, MAN, and will do so in close cooperation with its partners AF, DL, KL, VS.
This will give Virgin Connect access to a worldwide sales and frequent flyer potential, never seen by FlyBe.
At present FlyBe codeshares with some of these SKYTEAM partners on its routes and Virgin Connect can extend this cooperation to new destinations.
In addition FlyBe codeshares with EK, EY, CX and others, these airlines are likely to continue this cooperation with Virgin Connect.

Virgin Atlantic codeshares with SQ, SA, CA, NZ and Virgin Connect could be open for close cooperation with these and other airlines as well.
In addition Virgin Atlantic codeshares extensively from the UK regions to AMS & CDG and on to North America with AF/KL, so existing FlyBe routes add to this network.
Virgin Connect is not about pure UK domestic point-to-point, but network integration into a much wider global network.

Existing FlyBe routes in W19 into AMS, CDG, LHR and MAN:
- EMA-AMS 1x daily
- EXE-AMS up to 2x daily
- BHX-AMS 7x daily
- LCY-AMS up to 2x daily (weekends)
- MAN-AMS 4x daily
- SOU-AMS 4x daily
VS codeshares on 15x KL routes UK-AMS, plus all KL destinations in AMS-USA/Canada/Mexico.
Virgin Connect could do the same.

- BHX-CDG 3x daily in cooperation with AF
- CWL-CDG 1x daily in cooperation with AF
- EXE-CDG 2x daily in cooperation with AF
- MAN-CDG 4x daily in cooperation with AF
- SOU-CDG up to 3x daily in cooperation with AF
Plus FlyBe codeshares on AF operated UK-France routes and could add more routes from CDG.
VS codeshares on AF routes UK-CDG, plus all AF routes CDG-USA/Canada/Mexico

- LHR-ABZ 3x daily
- LHR-EDI up to 6x daily
- LHR-GUE 1x daily
- LHR-NQY 4x daily

- MAN-ABZ 5x daily
- MAN-AMS 4x daily
- MAN-BHD up to 7x daily
- MAN-CDG 3x daily
- MAN-CMF (winter only)
- MAN-DUS 4x daily
- MAN-EDI 4x daily
- MAN-EXE 2x daily
- MAN-HAJ 1x daily
- MAN-IOM 4x daily
- MAN-JER 1 daily
- MAN-NOC 1x daily
- MAN-LUX 1x daily
- MAN-LYS 1x daily
- MAN-MXP 1x daily
- MAN-NTE 1x daily
- MAN-NQY 1x daily
- MAN-SOU 6x daily
VS codeshares on FlyBe services from MAN.

Seeing no future for Virgin Connect seems somewhat short sighted.

factsonly wrote:

Virgin Connect has every opportunity to integrate FlyBe's existing network into SKYTEAM hubs at AMS, CDG, LHR, MAN, and will do so in close cooperation with its partners AF, DL, KL, VS.
This will give Virgin Connect access to a worldwide sales and frequent flyer potential, never seen by FlyBe.
At present FlyBe codeshares with some of these SKYTEAM partners on its routes and Virgin Connect can extend this cooperation to new destinations.
In addition FlyBe codeshares with EK, EY, CX and others, these airlines are likely to continue this cooperation with Virgin Connect.

Virgin Atlantic codeshares with SQ, SA, CA, NZ and Virgin Connect could be open for close cooperation with these and other airlines as well.
In addition Virgin Atlantic codeshares extensively from the UK regions to AMS & CDG and on to North America with AF/KL, so existing FlyBe routes add to this network.
Virgin Connect is not about pure UK domestic point-to-point, but network integration into a much wider global network.

Existing FlyBe routes in W19 into AMS, CDG, LHR and MAN:
- EMA-AMS 1x daily
- EXE-AMS up to 2x daily
- BHX-AMS 7x daily
- LCY-AMS up to 2x daily (weekends)
- MAN-AMS 4x daily
- SOU-AMS 4x daily
VS codeshares on 15x KL routes UK-AMS, plus all KL destinations in AMS-USA/Canada/Mexico.
Virgin Connect could do the same.

- BHX-CDG 3x daily in cooperation with AF
- CWL-CDG 1x daily in cooperation with AF
- EXE-CDG 2x daily in cooperation with AF
- MAN-CDG 4x daily in cooperation with AF
- SOU-CDG up to 3x daily in cooperation with AF
Plus FlyBe codeshares on AF operated UK-France routes and could add more routes from CDG.
VS codeshares on AF routes UK-CDG, plus all AF routes CDG-USA/Canada/Mexico

- LHR-ABZ 3x daily
- LHR-EDI up to 6x daily
- LHR-GUE 1x daily
- LHR-NQY 4x daily

- MAN-ABZ 5x daily
- MAN-AMS 4x daily
- MAN-BHD up to 7x daily
- MAN-CDG 3x daily
- MAN-CMF (winter only)
- MAN-DUS 4x daily
- MAN-EDI 4x daily
- MAN-EXE 2x daily
- MAN-HAJ 1x daily
- MAN-IOM 4x daily
- MAN-JER 1 daily
- MAN-NOC 1x daily
- MAN-LUX 1x daily
- MAN-LYS 1x daily
- MAN-MXP 1x daily
- MAN-NTE 1x daily
- MAN-NQY 1x daily
- MAN-SOU 6x daily
VS codeshares on FlyBe services from MAN.

Seeing no future for Virgin Connect seems somewhat short sighted.

But Delta seem to want to move away from Skyteam and do their own thing. I think they see that alliance as holding them back.

Clydenairways wrote:

factsonly wrote:

Virgin Connect has every opportunity to integrate FlyBe's existing network into SKYTEAM hubs at AMS, CDG, LHR, MAN, and will do so in close cooperation with its partners AF, DL, KL, VS.
This will give Virgin Connect access to a worldwide sales and frequent flyer potential, never seen by FlyBe.
At present FlyBe codeshares with some of these SKYTEAM partners on its routes and Virgin Connect can extend this cooperation to new destinations.
In addition FlyBe codeshares with EK, EY, CX and others, these airlines are likely to continue this cooperation with Virgin Connect.

Virgin Atlantic codeshares with SQ, SA, CA, NZ and Virgin Connect could be open for close cooperation with these and other airlines as well.
In addition Virgin Atlantic codeshares extensively from the UK regions to AMS & CDG and on to North America with AF/KL, so existing FlyBe routes add to this network.
Virgin Connect is not about pure UK domestic point-to-point, but network integration into a much wider global network.

Existing FlyBe routes in W19 into AMS, CDG, LHR and MAN:
- EMA-AMS 1x daily
- EXE-AMS up to 2x daily
- BHX-AMS 7x daily
- LCY-AMS up to 2x daily (weekends)
- MAN-AMS 4x daily
- SOU-AMS 4x daily
VS codeshares on 15x KL routes UK-AMS, plus all KL destinations in AMS-USA/Canada/Mexico.
Virgin Connect could do the same.

- BHX-CDG 3x daily in cooperation with AF
- CWL-CDG 1x daily in cooperation with AF
- EXE-CDG 2x daily in cooperation with AF
- MAN-CDG 4x daily in cooperation with AF
- SOU-CDG up to 3x daily in cooperation with AF
Plus FlyBe codeshares on AF operated UK-France routes and could add more routes from CDG.
VS codeshares on AF routes UK-CDG, plus all AF routes CDG-USA/Canada/Mexico

- LHR-ABZ 3x daily
- LHR-EDI up to 6x daily
- LHR-GUE 1x daily
- LHR-NQY 4x daily

- MAN-ABZ 5x daily
- MAN-AMS 4x daily
- MAN-BHD up to 7x daily
- MAN-CDG 3x daily
- MAN-CMF (winter only)
- MAN-DUS 4x daily
- MAN-EDI 4x daily
- MAN-EXE 2x daily
- MAN-HAJ 1x daily
- MAN-IOM 4x daily
- MAN-JER 1 daily
- MAN-NOC 1x daily
- MAN-LUX 1x daily
- MAN-LYS 1x daily
- MAN-MXP 1x daily
- MAN-NTE 1x daily
- MAN-NQY 1x daily
- MAN-SOU 6x daily
VS codeshares on FlyBe services from MAN.

Seeing no future for Virgin Connect seems somewhat short sighted.

But Delta seem to want to move away from Skyteam and do their own thing. I think they see that alliance as holding them back.

Partially right, their focus is on their JV, with KL/AF, VS and possibly AZ if that mess gets sorted out. Lots of DL moves recently have been with that in mind, that said. I do believe as you state that when push comes to shove that DL will look after their own interests first, then those of their partners. But they do have the experience to help VS and the Virgin Connect team, run a successful regional operation if that help is needed.