Railway operators offer stranded Flybe staff and customers free travel

Train operating companies have been responding to the collapse of UK-based airline Flybe with free travel for stranded staff and customers.

LNER, CrossCountry, West Midlands, FirstGroup and London Northwestern are among the companies offering help.

Staff and customers should present their employee ID, boarding card or flight confirmation details in order to travel with LNER today.

Suzanne Donnelly, LNER Commercial Director, said: “We recognise this is a difficult time for Flybe staff and for customers booked to travel with the former airline. We are pleased to be able to offer free Standard travel to help people return home following the collapse of Flybe.”

LNER is currently transforming services along the East Coast route with the introduction of new world-class Azuma trains offering an average 100 extra seats compared to the trains being replaced.

The offer from LNER comes after Flybe entered administration overnight. All flights have been grounded and the UK business has ceased trading with immediate effect.

CrossCountry is also offering free Standard travel for Flybe customers and employees on all its services across the UK.

Flybe customers simply have to show their booking confirmation or e-ticket on any CrossCountry service. Meanwhile FlyBe employees will be able to travel by showing their staff ID.

The offer extends is valid from Thursday 5 March to Sunday 8 March inclusive.

Ben Simkin, Commercial Director at CrossCountry said: “The next few days are likely to be stressful for many Flybe travellers whose travel plans have been affected as a result of today’s news. As one of the largest train operators in the UK, we can play a role in helping their customers and employees get from A to B, which is why we’ve taken the decision to waiver standard fares across the network.”

The FirstGroup, which includes Avanti West Coast and Great Western Railway and TransPennine Express, will offer a free ticket on its trains to all Flybe customers intending to travel during the coming week.

First Rail Managing Director Steve Montgomery said: “Our rail services connect people and communities up and down the country and as a gesture of goodwill we want to ensure that anyone who was due to travel on Flybe’s grounded flights this coming week can still complete their journey.”

Photo credit: LNER

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