Airline carrier Flybe is returning to the skies after a two year hiatus.
Founded over 40 years ago, Flybe will be shuttling passengers from Leeds Bradford Airport to London Heathrow and Belfast, amongst other UK routes.
Prices are generally around £34.99 - £39.99 each way, including throughout the summer season, so this is likely to become a popular value-for-money flight route for Yorkshire locals wanting to travel to the capital throughout the year.
Other exciting flight routes include East Midlands to Amsterdam and seven different UK and France locations taking off from Birmingham.
The small airline carrier has historically been known for its cheap flights and small aircrafts and it appears that the same tactics will be used as part of their relaunch, which will see the company taking off for the first time in two years.
In its heyday, Flybe was one of the UK's best known budget airlines and Europe's largest regional airline, but after months of struggling, the company made the decision to cease all operations: cancelled all of their outbound flights and filed for administration in March 2020, right at the beginning of the pandemic.
Image: Flybe
As a result, the company was thought to have left around 15,000 passengers stranded and some 2,400 staff were made redundant. Unfortunately do to the precarious state of the airline industry throughout the pandemic, this was not an uncommon headline in March 2020 and many other travel and tourism operators including industry giants Thomas Cook, Virgin Atlantic and travel agents STA Travel also closed their stores as a result of worldwide uncertainty.
Since the closure of Flybe two years ago, the company has been bought out by Thyme Opco, a company linked to former shareholder Cyrus Capital, who have changed the official company name to Flybe Limited, obtained airport slots, new operating license and route licenses ahead of their relaunch.
Flights are now live for booking, with the first set to take off on Friday 13 April, in just under a month's time. In total, there are 23 routes and over 500 flights available to book on the airline's website.
Tributes have been pouring in after it was announced that the founder of popular Indian restaurant chain Akbar’s has sadly died.
Shabir Hussain opened the first Akbar’s restaurant over in Bradford all the way back in 1995, before later expanding to several other major Northern cities including Leeds , Sheffield, Newcastle, Glasgow, and Manchester.
The restaurant founder’s death was announced by the company on social media this morning.
The statement sharing the sad news of his passing at the age of 56 on the official Akbar’s Instagram account reads: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Shabir Hussain, founder of Akbars Restaurant Group.
“Please remember Shabir Hussain in your prayers. May Allah grant him the highest rank in Jannah and bring peace and strength to his family during this difficult time.”
Following the announcement of his death, Akbar’s said all its restaurants – including the one in Manchester city centre – would be closed on Wednesday and Thursday as a result while staff pay their respects.
“All restaurants will now be closed and will reopen on Friday 18th October at 5pm,” the official statement concluded.
Since the news was publicly shared this morning, dozens of people have taken to the comments of the official Instagram post to pay tribute, share their condolences, and offer their support – with one reading: “A truly kind and generous man, and a very very sad loss indeed,” and another reading: “Heartbreaking to hear this beautiful gentleman is no more, but his legacy is forever.”
Another person wrote in tribute: “A huge loss. What an incredible legacy [he is] leaving behind.”
“So sad to hear this. Thank you for creating the finest lamb chops and curries,” another tribute reads, while someone else added: “So many good memories at Akbar’s, and always had a good laugh with brother Shabir. Will truly be missed.”
David Hockney launches drawing competition for Bradford City of Culture 2025
Clementine Hall
A nationwide drawing competition backed by artist David Hockney has been unveiled as part of UK City of Culture 2025.
The event is just one of many that will take place in Bradford over the course of 2025, including the acclaimed Turner Prize and an outdoor event helmed by Steven Frayne, better known as Dynamo.
And it doesn't stop there, to celebrate literature there will be a series of tributes to the Brontë sisters who were born in Thornton, Yorkshire.
A number of music events will also be held, including a brass band celebration of Bradford and its South Asian community.
It starts here. We are Bradford. We are the UK City of Culture 2025. Check out the first part of our programme now ?
David Hockney, widely thought of as Britain's greatest living artist, was born in Bradford in 1937. He is inviting people of all ages across the country to take part in his project to "reflect our everyday lives".
Dynamo, the world famous magician, will perform his new show Rise, which is based on the story of his grandfather teaching him magic tricks in the city.
Shanaz Gulzar, creative director of Bradford 2025, said: “The UK is invited to Bradford in 2025. Not only will audiences want to be celebrating everything that makes Bradford great, but it’ll also be a part of the change for this vibrant city and district.”
Image: Bradford City of Culture
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, said: “This celebration of talent born and bred in the city will help to get more people of all ages and backgrounds involved in cultural events, creating good jobs and opportunities for young people.”
Bradford City of Culture 2025 will kick off in January and aims to bring the cultural wonders of Yorkshire to the UK public whilst bringing much needed funding to the city.
Sophie Smith -
23rd March 2022 
