Flybe chief executive Christine Ourmieres-Widener is to step down in July following the sale of the UK carrier to the Connect consortium earlier this year.

The Exeter-based carrier says Ourmieres-Widener has decided to step down on 15 July. The airline expects to be in a position to announce a successor before her departure to ensure a "smooth handover".

Her departure follows the completion of the sale of the airline to a consortium consisting of Virgin Atlantic, Stobart Air and Cyrus Capital earlier this year.

Ourmieres-Widener has headed the airline since January 2017. She was previously chief executive of CityJet.

"On behalf of the entire Flybe Board, I want to extend my gratitude to Christine Ourmieres-Widener for her commitment and significant contributions to Flybe,"said Jonathan Peachey, a director at the carrier.

"This includes her tireless efforts to safeguard the future for the customers and communities who rely on Flybe, as well as the company’s employees, its pension fund members and its creditors. We all wish Christine the very best for the future."

Source: Cirium Dashboard