A whole new meaning of "Low Cost Carrier"

[David Ramsay]

From Airwise News

April 2, 2008

UK airline Flybe has given the term low-fare airline an entirely new meaning: it is paying 172 people to fly back and forth across England and the Irish Sea to help it meet a target for passenger numbers at Norwich Airport.

Flybe was narrowly falling short of a target to deliver at least 15,000 passengers on the Dublin-Norwich route in the 12 months ending on Monday, which meant it would have to forego a GBP280,000 pound (USD$550,000) rebate from the airport.

After the airport rejected a request for a partial rebate for almost hitting the target, Flybe hired 172 temps for GBP30 - GBP40 pounds each, plus a free bar and in-flight entertainment, though it admitted "it probably sounds like an early April fool."

But Richard Jenner, managing director of the airport in eastern England, called the British carrier's move "ludicrous" and said the target had to be met by regular fare-paying passengers.

"The ludicrousness is on the Norwich side who in essence have tried to hold us to ransom, putting at risk routes into Norwich," Flybe Chief Commercial Officer Mike Rutter replied in a joint interview with Jenner on Irish public broadcaster RTE.

(Reuters)

"April Fools"

[David Ramsay]

Don't think so .. try reading it!!

Smart ideaClever Airline

[Mark Grima]

Very smart indeed, although my first though when I read it yesterday was April Fools as well, but it wouldn't have been April Fool in the UK when I first heard it.

I sent the article to our sales guys at work, although we are tracking well at the moment so probably wont have to resort to paying people!

Cheers

M

[Nick W.]

Sydney Kings nearly resorted to that tactic this season