Airline to cut jobs and flights

Low cost airline Flybe has announced it is axing flights from Norwich to Dublin and closing its base at Norwich Airport in March 2009.

The company said all 45 staff based in Norwich would lose their jobs although they will be encouraged to apply for positions elsewhere in the company.

Flights from Norwich to Manchester and Edinburgh will be retained, and flights to Exeter and Jersey reinstated.

The company blamed the economic downturn for the decision.

Earlier this year Flybe threatened to pull out from the airport in a dispute over landing charges.

The 21 cabin crew, 20 flight deck crew and four engineers were told the news at lunchtime.

Flybe's chief operating officer Mike Rutter said: "Tough decisions have to be taken in the current economic climate."

But he said the company wanted everyone of its staff to stay and would work with them to see if they could be redeployed elsewhere.

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