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Pilots’ union seeks job security guarantee as part of Flybe rescue

The UK pilots union is calling for reassurances on jobs from the Vrigin Atlantic-Stobart Group consortium set to bail out troubled Flybe.

The British Airline Pilots Association has responded to the proposed rescue bid by saying it now needs to meet the consortium behind the deal to get more information.

Connect Airways, a company bringing together Virgin Atlantic, Stobart Group and Cyrus Capital, has reached agreement on the terms of a £2.2 million recommended cash offer for Flybe.

The new company will also acquire Stobart Air and be rebranded as Virgin Atlantic with a further £100 million to potentially be injected.

While the pilots union says it is glad the uncertainty over the future of Flybe is starting to clear, it needs reassurances on how the take-over will progress and whether this will have any effect on pilot jobs.

General secretary Brian Strutton said: “Balpa wants to see guarantees of job security and a commitment to a positive future for our members in Flybe.

“We’re pleased to see the previous uncertainty of the company is at last starting to clear but the hard work has just begun.

“There has been no consultation with us by Flybe so we don’t know whether the deal on offer is good news or not – the jury is out.

“We urgently seek to talk with all parties to get further information and clarity over what this will mean for pilots and other employees.”

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