Flybe, one of Europe’s leading low-cost airlines, had revealed the second phase of its summer schedule for 2007, following the early release of selected summer routes in September. The final phase of the summer schedule will be announced later this year upon the successful acquisition of BA Connect by the end of the year, when even further routes will be announced.

The timetable offers a mix of European and domestic routes and sees the airline opening up a new service to Croatia in South East Europe, as well as continued expansion in France.

The summer timetable includes 13 new routes to include services to Hamburg, Dubrovnik, Split, Avignon, Rennes, Brest, Nice, Limoges, Glasgow, Belfast, Manchester, Newquay and Bergerac.

Flybe’s summer timetable sees a major move into the previously untouched area of Croatia, with flights from Birmingham to Dubrovnik and Split starting in May 2007. Re-emerging as a popular leisure destination, this latest move into the south eastern European country is of high strategic importance to the airline as it continues to push its boundaries and grow across Europe.

European expansion is prominent throughout the summer timetable with an increased range of French routes on offer from Manchester to Brest and Rennes, as well as additional services to France from Exeter to Avignon, Rennes and Nice.

The summer schedule also sees the first European routes from the UK bases of Newcastle and Edinburgh to Limoges and Bergerac respectively, and the addition of Hamburg as a new base in Germany with flights operating from Birmingham from March next year.

The consolidated summer timetable reaffirms the airline’s dedication to its UK bases growing services from Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Exeter, Edinburgh, Newcastle, and Newquay, as well as showing its commitment to new and existing European bases in France, Spain, Portugal, Germany and Croatia, offering more choice and cheaper fares from regional airports.

Mike Rutter, Chief Commercial Officer, Flybe comments: “The announcement of new bases in Croatia and Germany are some of our most important new schedule announcements to date, demonstrating our aggressive expansion policy in the UK and across Europe. The move into the up-and-coming tourist mecca of Croatia marks an exciting point in Flybe’s history and shows our dedication to expand into other territories across Europe.”

“As the largest operator of regional destinations in France from the UK regions, we have been at the forefront of opening up French regional destinations to people across the UK and the new timetable sees us continuing in our mission to bring easy access to France to the regions. With the recent announcement of the proposed acquisition of BA Connect these are exciting times for Flybe and the third and final stage of our summer 2007 schedule is expected in the New Year where we will be aiming to continue expansion by adding more key routes.”

“Flybe remains firmly dedicated to the regions and offering services which stretch the backbone of Britain remain our number one priority. We promised to increase our services and passenger numbers by expansion across the UK and Europe and today’s announcement sees us delivering on this promise. The new routes will continue to bring exceptional service, low-cost travel and exciting destinations directly to people’s doorsteps while promoting the growth of regional air travel across the UK,” concluded Rutter.