Tri-Service
Flybe CEO Departs After RAF Northolt Comments
Flybe CEO Saad Hammad is to part ways with the company with immediate effect, shortly after he called on the Ministry of Defence to allow the airline to use RAF Northolt.
Mr Hammad had suggested that the regional airline be allowed to operate links between Liverpool and London out of RAF Northolt, while Heathrow's third runway is being built.
It's now been announced, however, that he will step down after a "mutual agreement" after stating "now is the right time for me to move onto a fresh challenge".
Mr Hammad replacement is being sought, whilst the former CEO begins a year of gardening leave - whilst retaining a salary of £433,500.
It was revealed on Tuesday that Heathrow will receive an extra runway. In light of this Flybe had said:
"In the interim Flybe believes the government should allow scheduled commercial flights to and from RAF Northolt to fast-track the benefits of regional connectivity. The new capacity at Heathrow will take a decade or more to build and Northolt is available right now."
"We also estimate it would contribute an additional £7 million annually to the government in landing fees and ADP."
The National Connectivity Taskforce, meanwhile, has described RAF Northolt as a "grossly under-utilised national asset", with only one-third of flights chartered by the RAF. The remainder are said to belong to private jets.
In 1946, Northolt was loaned from the RAF to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and British European Airways began weekly services to Madrid and Gibraltar, as well as Stavangar and Oslo later.
With Heathrow less than 10 miles away and central London 50 minutes away by public transport, it's argued that Northolt could provide excellent transfers to further afield and a viable link to the capital for northerners. Speaking in July this year, Mr Hammad said:
"We really believe it would be a win-win solution for all – the only people who would lose out are the wealthy few who fly in and out of there in noisy private executive jets.
"It would be a great opportunity for Mrs May to demonstrate her commitment to work for the many rather than the privileged few."
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