Editing Virgin Atlantic (section)

===Flybe takeover bid===
On 11 January 2019, Virgin Atlantic formed the [[Connect Airways]] consortium with [[Stobart Group#Stobart Aviation|Stobart Aviation]] and Cyrus Capital, to make a takeover bid for [[Flybe (1979–2020)|Flybe]].<ref name="fg-20190111">{{cite news |last1=Kaminski-Morrow |first1=David |title=Virgin Atlantic and Stobart link up to take over Flybe |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/virgin-atlantic-and-stobart-link-up-to-take-over-fly-454952/ |work=Flightglobal.com |date=11 January 2019}}</ref><ref name="fg-20190111-cuts">{{cite news |last1=Kaminski-Morrow |first1=David |title=Cuts likely as Virgin shapes Flybe-Stobart combination |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/cuts-likely-as-virgin-shapes-flybe-stobart-combinati-454957/ |work=Flightglobal.com |date=11 January 2019}}</ref> The deal would see the consortium combine Flybe and [[Stobart Air]] with Virgin Atlantic to create an integrated carrier operating under the Virgin Atlantic brand.<ref name="insidermedia-20190111">{{cite news |last1=Calder |first1=Simon |title=Consortium strikes takeover deal for Flybe |url=https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/northwest/consortium-strikes-takeover-deal-for-flybe |work=Insider Media Ltd |date=11 January 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Flybe and Stobart Air would however retain their own [[Air Operator Certificate]]s.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dyson |first1=Momlly |title=Virgin Atlantic and Stobart agree Flybe take-over |url=https://buyingbusinesstravel.com/news/1129764-virgin-atlantic-and-stobart-agree-flybe-take-over |work=buyingbusinesstravel.com |date=11 January 2019 |access-date=11 January 2019 |archive-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111175702/https://buyingbusinesstravel.com/news/1129764-virgin-atlantic-and-stobart-agree-flybe-take-over |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 15 January 2019, Connect Airways announced an increased offer, which Flybe's board accepted.<ref name="atwonline-20190115">{{cite news |last1=Reals |first1=Kerry |title=Connect Airways raises takeover offer for Flybe |url=http://atwonline.com/airlines/connect-airways-raises-takeover-offer-flybe |work=atwonline.com |language=en}}</ref> On 21 February 2019, the Flybe Group confirmed that its operating assets, including the airline and the website, had indeed been transferred to Connect Airways, despite a last-minute rival bid.<ref name=cityam-20190221>{{cite news |last1=Warrington |first1=James |title=Flybe completes sale to Virgin-led consortium |url=http://www.cityam.com/273638/flybe-completes-sale-virgin-led-consortium-after-dramatic |work=cityam.com |date=21 February 2019 |language=en}}</ref> However, despite the investment of £135 million from Connect Airways into Flybe, the airline filed for administration and ceased operations with immediate effect in March 2020, following reduced demand that Virgin Atlantic attributed to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and the UK government failing to grant a £100 million loan.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/beleaguered-flybe-ceases-operations/137095.article |title= Beleaguered Flybe ceases operations |author= Alfred Chua |date= 5 March 2020 |work= Flightglobal}}</ref><ref name="Flybecollapse"/>