Stobart Group is considering forming a consortium with an undisclosed partner to assume full control over flybe. (2002), Reuters has reported.

"A number of potential structures have been considered including taking a non-controlling interest in a vehicle to acquire 100% of flybe. likely to be in cash," Stobart has said in a statement.

For its part, flybe. has denied receiving an offer for the time being.

Stobart Group already owns Stobart Air (Dublin International), which operates out of Isle of Man to each of Birmingham, GB, Liverpool, and Manchester International on a wet-lease basis on behalf of flybe., as well as out of London Southend to each of Budapest, Cologne/Bonn, Dublin International, Glasgow International, Groningen, Lyon St. Exupéry, Manchester, Prague Václav Havel, Rennes and Vienna as a franchisee of flybe. The group also owns airports at Carlisle and London Southend.

The value of the potential bid was not revealed. flybe.'s market capitalisation stands at around GBP100 million (USD139.5 million) after the company's stock value appreciated by more than 20% following the news of Stobart's interest.

flybe. lost GBP26.7 million net in the Fiscal Year 2016/17. It reverted to profitability during the six-month period between April and September 2017, when it earned GBP15.1 million after tax.