Cardiff Airport's biggest airline Flybe rescued in £2 million deal

Virgin Atlantic and Stobart Group have bought regional airline Flybe in a £2.2 million deal which will see the creation of a new airline group.

The companies, in conjunction with Cyrus Capital Partners, have agreed an offer of 1p per share for Flybe, which put itself up for sale in November.

Under the plans, the airline will be combined with Stobart Air in a joint venture called Connect Airways.

Flybe is Cardiff Airport's biggest airline operator and has around eight million passengers a year.

Cyrus will own 40% of the new company, while Virgin and Stobart will take 30% apiece.

Flybe chief executive Christine Ourmieres-Widener said the firm had been forced to seek a buyer due to higher fuel costs, currency fluctuations and Brexit uncertainty.