bmi regional, one of the UK’s leading regional airlines, has recently announced the launch of a new route to Nantes in France from Bristol Airport.
The new bmi regional Nantes service will take off on July 4, flying twice-weekly to the Loire region gateway. Fares to Nantes with bmi regional start from £79 one way. The launch is the latest milestone in the partnership between bmi regional and Bristol Airport.
The new route follows the introduction of services to Paris and Dusseldorf in April and the re-introduction of Milan at the beginning of the year. These routes, along with existing services (to Aberdeen, Hamburg, Munich and Frankfurt), take the total destinations currently serviced by bmi regional from the South West to eight.
Paul Sies, Chief Operating Officer at bmi regional, said: ‘In the South West, 5,000 companies are interested in or are already exporting to France and Germany. Nantes is the gateway to the Loire region, perfect for a weekend break. Meanwhile flying twice a day to Paris means that our passengers can have a full day of business in the French capital, rather than having to overnight there. Dusseldorf is an international business and financial centre and bmi regional is the only airline to directly connect the hub with businesses in the South West.’
Shaun Browne, Aviation Director at Bristol Airport, said: ‘We are delighted with the addition of the Nantes route to the bmi regional network. With large Airbus aerospace manufacturing sites in both Nantes and Saint Nazaire, the route will provide enhanced connectivity which is a key business focus for us. This region of France, with Nantes as the gateway provides easy access to both the Atlantic coast and the French countryside.’
The new service also comes as Bristol Airport is set to open its £8.6 million terminal extension early next month, offering more departure lounge seating as well as new retail and catering outlets for passengers.
Bristol Airport is the fifth largest outside of London, handling 6.3 million passengers in 2014 and planning approvals in place for up to 10 million passengers per annum. A new Hampton by Hilton hotel is also due to open at the Airport by next spring, it said.
