flybe. (2002) (Exeter) will completely exit the Doncaster/Sheffield market at the end of October citing a lack of demand at the northern English airport.

In April, the UK regional carrier said it would close its Doncaster/Sheffield base at the end of the year following the return of two E175s to their lessors. The resulting drop in capacity would result in eight out of 10 routes being dropped leaving Amsterdam Schiphol and Belfast City as flybe's sole remaining services out of Doncaster.

However, in a statement to local media, the airline said that following an extended review of its entire network, it had now decided to withdraw from Doncaster/Sheffield altogether.

"Flybe has recently completed an exhaustive network review to strengthen the commercial viability of its 2019-20 winter schedule, further optimise its flying programme and improve profitability in line with its previously announced planned fleet reduction," a spokesman told The Yorkshire Post newspaper.

"It was announced back in April that the airline’s base at Doncaster/Sheffield Airport will close when the two jets based there are withdrawn and returned to the lessors at the end of October. This meant that the two remaining routes on sale for the winter to Amsterdam and Belfast City would be operated by smaller Dash 8-400 aircraft flying from another base. However, since going on sale, neither route has attracted sufficient forward bookings to warrant them continuing."

"As a result, it is with regret that with effect from the end of the 2019 summer schedule, Flybe will be withdrawing all services from Doncaster/Sheffield Airport, with the last flight operating on Saturday, October 26."

In tandem with this announcement, Flybe has also confirmed it will cut its Leeds/Bradford to Düsseldorf service retaining only Belfast City, Southampton, and Newquay. Earlier this month, it also confirmed it would close its Isle of Man base by the start of the Summer 2020 season.

Flybe is currently undergoing a drastic business restructuring plan following its takeover by the Connect Airways consortium earlier this year. Aside from network pruning, it is also retiring its E195 fleet given a decision to focus its core operations around the Dash 8-400.