bmi regional, claimed to be the UK’s most punctual airline, is set to launch a new scheduled service between Aberdeen and the Norwegian capital, Oslo, on October 28, 2013.
The new Oslo service will operate from Aberdeen International Airport as a single daily flight from Monday to Friday and on Sundays, and will be operated with a 37-seat Embraer 135 jet aircraft. Flights will depart Aberdeen at 1605, arriving in Oslo at 1845, and depart Oslo at 1915, arriving in Aberdeen at 2000, all times local. Booking is now available via the airline’s www.bmiregional.com website and travel agents. Fares start from GBP99 one way and GBP175 return. From Oslo, fares start from NOK999 one way or NOK1999 return.
There are currently no direct flights between Aberdeen and Oslo. While leisure travellers may benefit from the direct access between two key city destinations, the decision to start the service was prompted by demands from the oil and gas industry, the airline said.
Cathal O’Connell, chief executive of bmi regional said: ‘We are delighted to be launching a direct scheduled service between the cities of Aberdeen and Oslo. Both locations are strategic hubs for oil and gas activity and we believe our flights will offer significant time and efficiency savings for businesses in the North-east of Scotland and Norway.’
Carol Benzie, commercial director at Aberdeen International Airport, said: ‘We are delighted to see bmi regional growing strongly at Aberdeen and really reflecting the demand in the market. Oslo is a key location for the North-east business community as well as being a great leisure route for both inbound and outbound travellers.’
Ranked number one in terms of quality of life amongst European cities, Oslo also offers a range of cultural and natural attractions. Steve Harris, chief executive of VisitAberdeen, said: ‘We are delighted that the opportunities to attract tourists to Aberdeen through Aberdeen International Airport continue to grow and that bmi regional, in particular, continues to expand into Scandinavia at a real pace. Aberdeen is fast becoming recognised as Scotland’s weekend city, where great value exists in hotels and elsewhere. The timings of this service will help us to develop that market.’
The new route announcement comes after bmi regional recently launched direct, scheduled flights between Aberdeen and Kristiansund in Norway. Earlier this month, the airline also announced that it would operate scheduled services between Stavanger and northern Norway from January 2014.
Other than its recently launched Kristiansund service, bmi regional operates flights from Aberdeen to Bristol, Manchester, Norwich and Esbjerg in Denmark.
