Staff who lost their jobs overnight on 5th March through the collapse of Flybe have expressed dismay that they will fall between bureaucratic cracks, meaning they cannot take advantage of the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (JRS).

The JRS only supports those currently in work, not those who have lost their jobs, even as a consequence of the Coronavirus crisis which was, at least in part, responsible for the collapse of Flybe.

A BALPA spokesperson said, “Loyal and dedicated Flybe pilots and other staff were all made redundant overnight with no notice and no consultation. It is great that the JRS is helping workers in many parts of the aviation industry, but sadly, Flybe pilots have already been made redundant, and therefore cannot access to this scheme. We believe the Government should widen the criteria to take account of workers like this who have lost their jobs and we have written to Treasury Ministers asking them to do so.”