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.
A police investigation has been launched following the 'unexplained' deaths of two people who were known to each other.
At around 6:55pm on 11 August, officers from West Yorkshire Police (WYP) were first called out to an address on New Stead Rise in Bradford following reports that a woman, aged 52, had been found dead, and then a further call was received at 7:14pm to reports a 59-year-old man was found dead at a business premises on Tong Park Industrial estate.
Both deaths are currently being treated as 'unexplained', WYP declared, and enquiries are being carried out with a forensic examination pending.
Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle, of the Homicide and Major Enquiry team, confirmed that the deceased are known to each other - which is why an investigation and public appeal for information has been launched.
"Sadly, we are investigating after the deaths of two people at two locations in Bradford," Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle said.
"These people are known to each other, and their deaths are being treated as unexplained. We are not currently seeking anyone else in connection with their deaths.
"Enquiries remain ongoing into establishing what has happened."
Can you help? Anyone with any information is asked to contact police via 101, or by using the live chat options at https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/livechat, quoting log 1539 of 11 August.
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Bradford
Shortlist for 2026 Mercury Prize announced with several northern names making the cut
Clementine Hall
The shortlist for the 2026 Mercury Prize has officially landed - and it's another huge year for music from the north.
The prestigious annual award, which celebrates the very best British and Irish albums released over the past 12 months, has unveiled its 12 nominated records ahead of this year's ceremony in Newcastle this October.
Among the biggest talking points is a first-ever Mercury Prize nomination for music legend and northern icon Sir Paul McCartney, whose latest album The Boys Of Dungeon Lane has earned him a place on the shortlist.
Elsewhere representing the north, Newcastle jazz collective Knats have been shortlisted for A Great Day In Newcastle while jungle pioneer Nia Archives, who comes from Bradford, is recognised for her acclaimed album Emotional Junglist.
Image: Audio North
Another artist flying the Newcastle flag is JADE with her debut solo album That's Showbiz Baby!, whilst other notable nominations include Olivia Dean, RAYE and and the charity compilation HELP(2) from War Child Records.
The full 2026 Mercury Prize shortlist is:
Paul McCartney – The Boys Of Dungeon Lane
Olivia Dean – The Art Of Loving
RAYE – This Music May Contain Hope
Dave – The Boy Who Played The Harp
Florence + The Machine – Everybody Scream
Dove Ellis – Blizzard
Knats – A Great Day In Newcastle
Kojey Radical – Don't Look Down
JADE – That's Showbiz Baby!
Nia Archives – Emotional Junglist
Suede – Antidepressants
War Child Records – HELP(2)
This year's Mercury Prize ceremony will return to Newcastle's Utilita Arena on Thursday 22 October after the city successfully hosted the awards for the first time last year.
The 2025 event saw hometown hero Sam Fender take home the coveted prize for People Watching, and who knows - maybe The Toon will bag another prize for a hometown hero.
Sophie Smith -
23rd March 2022 
