Tag: resume

Loganair announces new direct routes connecting East Anglia with Norwich, Exeter

Loganair, the UK’s largest regional airline, has announced the launch of new air routes connecting East Anglia with the South-West of England with flights to Norwich and Exeter.

The service, which starts on July 12, will operate a four flights per week service across the summer season on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday – moving to Monday and Friday flights from September onwards. The 70-minute flight will be operated on Loganair’s 49-seat Embraer 145 jets and can be a more convenient way to travel than rail connections via London or the 320-mile road journey.

Fares start from £49.99 one-way including all taxes and charges. All Loganair fares include a free checked baggage allowance, and tickets are on sale from today at www.loganair.co.uk. The service links existing Loganair destinations. Norwich is already served from Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Jersey, and Exeter from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle. Loganair also said that its Edinburgh-Norwich services, originally planned to resume in September, will now recommence on July 12.

Loganair Chief Executive Jonathan Hinkles said: ‘We are very pleased to expand our commitment to Norwich and Exeter with this direct service, connecting two important UK business and leisure locations. We’re sure this new connection will be warmly welcomed by customers travelling for work reasons and by those – just as soon as they can – travelling to visit friends and family.

‘The need for domestic connectivity has been clearly recognised by the UK Government with its stated intention to reform Air Passenger Duty on domestic flights. There is no doubt the high level of APD has historically rendered such links as Norwich to Exeter economically difficult to sustain.

‘The fact that 42 of Flybe’s 46 lost domestic routes have now been restored also shows the resilience and the importance of supporting the UK’s domestic airlines and this ‘team effort’ across the industry is something of which we should we all be proud.’

Exeter Airport Operations Director Stephen Wiltshire said: ‘It’s marvellous that Loganair is re-establishing the link between Exeter and Norwich, which is a key route for business, tourism and reconnecting family and friends kept apart by the pandemic.

‘Importantly, this launch fills another gap left by the collapse of Flybe, with almost every domestic destination from Exeter now being restored by Loganair and other carriers over the coming months.’

Norwich Airport Managing Director Richard Pace said: ‘We’re delighted Loganair is re-establishing the link between Norwich and Exeter. We also welcome Loganair’s decision to restart the route to Edinburgh in July. In launching these routes, Loganair is putting its trust in the UK Government to deliver on its promise to reduce domestic Air Passenger Duty which is critical to the recovery and sustainability of domestic flying.’

Wizz Air resumes services from Doncaster Sheffield Airport

Following the relaxation of travel restrictions, Wizz Air has restarted operations from Doncaster Sheffield Airport starting July 1, with the first flights operating to Riga, Krakow and Vilnius.

DSA’s largest airline, Wizz Air serves a number of popular European cities and holiday destinations with low cost fares. Wizz Air’s flight timetable will be in strict adherence of government advice and more routes will soon be added to the list of available flights from DSA, as the Government and Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) relax current legislation and restrictions on international travel. Customers with existing bookings will be able to travel, and those looking to book a holiday will be able to do so now.

Dee Thomas, Director of Operations at Doncaster Sheffield Airport, said: ‘We’re so happy to welcome back Wizz Air passengers to DSA, getting their holiday and travel plans back on track.

‘Wizz is a valued partner of Doncaster Sheffield Airport and we are proud to be one of their UK bases. We celebrated 4 million passengers last year and look forward to welcoming many more now that operations have restarted.’

In ensuring the safety and well-being of customers and colleagues, Doncaster Sheffield Airport continues to strictly follow all guidance from Public Health England and the relevant authorities. Personal protective equipment packs will on sale for £5 on entry to the airport. These will include two face masks, two packs of anti-bacterial wipes, and two sets of Vinyl gloves.

Within the terminal building, the safety measures include social distancing, the use of safety screens, hand sanitiser stations and an enhanced cleaning programme. Passengers and staff will be asked to wear face coverings at the airport and to follow the latest public information displays.

Eastern Airways to resume flights from Southampton this month

Eastern Airways, the UK regional airline, will resume services from Southampton Airport, including to Aberdeen, Belfast City, Dublin, Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds Bradford and Teesside later this month.

Starting Monday June 22, the Humberside Airport-based airline will commence a daily weekday service to Belfast City, Manchester, Newcastle and Aberdeen, while services to Leeds Bradford and Teesside will be introduced on Monday June 29 and Dublin services will commence on Thursday July 23. Frequency of services will be increased as appropriate through July, August and September to help restore the business and leisure connections. The flights are on sale through www.easternairways.com

Roger Hage, Eastern Airways’ General Manager Commercial & Operations, said: ‘We are pleased to announce that our Southampton flights are returning from 22nd June with a carefully considered initial frequency to support the major regions of the UK and ensure regional connectivity returns given its vital role in recovering economic prosperity. We will continue to increase frequency including the return of weekend services as demand returns along with adding new routes to our network. All services will ensure the safest procedures for our customer care are offered in conjunction with our airport partners.’

Neil Garwood, Managing Director at Southampton Airport, said: ‘As we restore airport operations, we are absolutely delighted to welcome back Eastern Airways, providing vital connectivity across the UK, and enabling the recovery of regional economies.’

Following the collapse of Flybe, Eastern Airways had stepped in to ensure regional connectivity from Southampton on an expanding network prior to the Covid-19 travel restrictions.

As part of new safety measures in light of COVID-19, Eastern Airways’ usual complimentary on-board service will be limited to enable reduced customer contact. A full anti-bacterial wipe down of all touch points between every service operated and a comprehensive night-stop sanitisation will be implemented. All fares will include 15kg of complimentary hold baggage as part of the service.

Newcastle Airport to resume services, announces health measures for staff and customer safety

Newcastle International Airport has announced that scheduled flights will resume operating from the airport on June 1, 2020.

From Monday, Loganair will commence six flights per week to Aberdeen and KLM five flights per week to Amsterdam. In the second half of June, easyJet will operate up to four flights a week to Belfast, Eastern Airways up to six flights per week to Aberdeen and double-daily weekday flights to Southampton. Loganair will add an additional six flights per week to Southampton and Air France up to five flights every week to Paris.

Ryanair is also expected to commence two flights per week to Alicante. Further flights are scheduled to begin operating throughout July and August.

The airport has also announced a number of measures that will help provide a safe environment for passengers and staff. The airport’s Ten Point Plan include: deter people with COVID-19 symptoms, or those who have self-isolating members in the household, from coming to airport; operate car parks without any human touch point; undertake a trial of temperature testing technology; make face masks mandatory within the terminal building; allow only passengers and staff to enter the terminal; ensure intensive cleaning and hygiene regime throughout the building; enforce two metre social distancing where possible; make sure no shops or restaurants are in operation at the airport, offer COVID-19 prevention training for all customer facing staff as well as establish certain specific measures to ensure the safety of all staff.

Nick Jones, Chief Executive of Newcastle International Airport said ‘This has been a very challenging period for aviation so it is pleasing that we are now taking cautious and carefully planned steps forward. We will continue to work with the government, our airlines and other business partners to ensure our customers and employees are as safe as possible.

‘Aviation is critical to kick starting the economy so to have airlines ready to restore connectivity is positive news for both the Airport and the wider North East’

Newcastle International Airport added that it is expecting government guidance for aviation in the near future and will update any measures in line with this guidance.