AIRLINE Flybe is at risk of collapse putting 2,000 jobs at risk, according to reports.

The airline is reportedly in talks over potential emergency financing after suffering rising losses.

The company has said that passengers should continue to plan to "travel as planned".

It is being reported that Flybe has been holding talks with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Transport (DfT) on whether the government could provide or facilitate any emergency financing to the company.

The company operates more UK domestic flights than any other.

A Flybe spokeswoman said: "Flybe continues to focus on providing great service and connectivity for our customers, to ensure that they can continue to travel as planned.

"We don't comment on rumour or speculation."

Flybe flies 8.5 million passengers each year to 170 European destinations.

Last February, the airline was bought by a consortium led by Virgin Atlantic following poor financial results.

The general secretary of the British Airline Pilots Association, Brian Strutton, said they were angry the talks were being held in private.

He added: "I am appalled that once again the future of a major UK airline and hundreds of jobs is being discussed in secret with no input from employees or their representatives.

"According to reports the airline could have collapsed over the weekend which would have been devastating news. This is an appalling state of affairs and we demand that the owners of Flybe – Virgin, Stobart and Cyrus – and the Government departments involved stop hiding and talk to us about Flybe.

"We have a right to be consulted and the staff have a right to know what is going on."