The loss of regional UK flights to Southampton for cruise customers, and cruise specialists, could be one of the biggest issues for agents.

Carl Winn, head of marketing, membership and travel at the Channel Islands Co-operative Society, said: “We’ve got 79 bookings which we are working through now. There’s a big cruise market that uses Flybe flights into Southampton, which will definitely be impacted. 

“The coronavirus situation was the final nail in the coffin for Flybe. Despite the rescue deal, a lot of people – myself included – were holding off booking until things were a bit more stable financially.

“Blue Islands has been excellent in putting on extra services; we’re hoping they will come in and operate Flybe’s flights. It’s safe to say we’ll lose a few of our routes, as they’re perceived to be loss-making, which is a real shame.”

‘Massive loss to our local area’

Cruise customers from Northern Ireland could also lose out if Flybe’s Belfast City-Southampton route is not picked up by another carrier.

Sandra Corkin, managing director at Oasis Travel, said: “Our cruise market is going to be the most affected. This really is a massive blow for us with passengers travelling from Belfast to Southampton – we must have hundreds booked.

“Even though London is close, our customers do like to fly directly to Southampton. It’s a very sad day.”

Exeter airport, where Flybe was based, could also lose some key routes, including short-haul flights to several European destinations.

Hayley Corkell, manager of The Destination Lounge’s South Molton branch in Devon, told TTG: “We’ve got passengers due to go to Disneyland Paris in a few weeks, and Flybe’s Exeter-Paris service has been very convenient. It’s a massive loss to our local area.

“We have elderly customers who don’t want to travel to Bristol. Right now we’re hoping an airline can come in and fill the hole left behind and that Exeter airport can cope with the impact as it’s a fantastic little hub.”

Flybe collapsed into administration on Thursday (5 March) following a slump in bookings. Mark Anderson, chief executive of Flybe parent Connect Airways, said the carrier’s more recent troubles owed to the spread of the coronavirus. Flybe employed around 2,400 people when it folded.

Within hours, former Flybe franchise partner Eastern Airways said it would now operate “independently” and has already added three former Flybe routes. It also vowed to “continue to work closely with the travel trade”.

Scottish carrier Loganair will operate 16 of Flybe’s routes from its bases at Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Newcastle, starting from 16 March.

Another former Flybe franchise operator Blue Islands also put on extra flights to help passengers on Thursday (March 5).

Aviation minister Kelly Tolhurst said the government was “working really hard” with the aviation industry to find new carriers for Flybe’s routes.

Operators to the Channel Islands and other affected destinations, including Airways Holidays, Premier Holidays, Prestige Holidays and Inghams, said they were helping stranded passengers while seeking to find new flights for clients due to travel imminently.