FLYBE, the airline founded in the Island and originally named Jersey European, has been awarded the title Regional Airline of the Year for 2009.

The prestigious award was announced in Washington this week by US-based global industry publication Air Transport World.It is only the second time in the 35-year history of the internationally respected awards that a British airline has received the accolade.

Flybe was born as Jersey European in 1979 and was owned by a group of Islanders, but really shot to prominence after multi-millionaire steel magnate Jack Walker bought the airline in 1983. He was chairman for many years and oversaw dramatic growth. The Walker family still has a considerable holding in the airline through a family trust.

It is now Europe’s largest regional operator and was described as ‘an industry trendsetter’ by the Air Transport World judges. They said it had ‘demonstrated innovation, adaptation and a willingness to take calculated business risks over its 30-year history’. Flybe chairman and chief executive Jim French said it was a fantastic honour. ‘Air Transport World is the industry bible and for a British airline to win this award is a tremendous achievement,’ he said.