Flybe CEO announces resignation, boosting male domination of aviation

On a day when Flybe cancelled dozens of flights due to strikes in Amsterdam, the chief executive of the troubled airline announced she would stand down on 15 July.

Christine Ourmières-Widener’s departure is expected to coincide with Connect Airways – a consortium of Virgin Atlantic, Stobart Air and a US investor – taking control of the Exeter-based regional airline.

She has been CEO of the Exeter-based airline for two years.

Ms Ourmières-Widener told staff in an internal email, just before noon.

She said: “Together, we have been able to secure the jobs of our loyal Flybe employees with the sale to Connect Airways and provide our customers and the UK with the vital transport and travel infrastructure they rely on, while preparing Flybe for a bright future under its new ownership.” 

In the official public announcement shortly afterwards, Flybe director Jonathan Peachey praised “her tireless efforts to safeguard the future for the customers and communities who rely on Flybe, as well as the company’s employees, its pension fund members and its creditors”.

In a challenging environment which has seen several airlines collapse, Ms Ourmières-Widener presided over a spell of heavy losses.

Flybe, which competes for passengers with Europe’s two budget giants, easyJet and Ryanair, is shrinking its fleet and network in an attempt to restore profitability.

But it has faced crewing problems, which led to substantial cancellation at the start of the summer season in late March and early April.

For each passenger on cancelled flights, Flybe is obliged to find alternative departures, provide accommodation if needed and pay €250 (£215) in compensation under European air passengers’ rights rules.

Ms Ourmières-Widener’s departure is a setback in overcoming the overwhelmingly male domination of aviation.

While many women work for airlines, leadership is almost exclusively male worldwide. Farzaneh Sharafbafi recently stood down as chief executive of Iran Air. 

Dame Carolyn McCall served as chief executive of Britain’s biggest budget airline, easyJet, from 2010 before taking over at ITV in 2018.

Cathy Adams, head of travel at The Independent, said: “This is a good opportunity for Flybe to be a trend-bucking airline and appoint another woman as CEO.”